Found a mud dauber's nest on my step-in post in the garage. We'll be using the post, so the nest has to go....so why not put it to good use for my classroom?

Broke one open to show my students how the paralyzed spiders are used to feed the developing wasp larvae. Could be interesting to have students count numbers and types of spiders to determine food preferences.

1. We're all in this together

2. Going nowhere fast

Looks as if a parasite has gotten to these mud dauber larvae....anyone know what they would be?

(straight out of camera)

You almost have to wonder if one of the spiders had its own little parasite that is using the spider-hoarding methods of the daubers to get to the dauber's larvae...

I really like spiders but when I see a bunch of them piled together like that, can't help but feel like squashing them.

They can still move slightly when they are paralyzed, but they certainly couldn't skitter away if you tried to squash them! :-)

Interesting info and captures !
Brian v.

Very cool capture and nice info