Seriously subdued spider in seven shocking scenes

A Yellow-legged mud-dauber Wasp stuffs a paralysed spider into a hole as future food for its offspring.

At work recently, I was alerted to the presence of an odd wasp, with a ‘sac’ under its body, trying to get into a small hole in the window frame. I grabbed my camera, opened the window, and took photos.

It quickly became clear that the ‘sac’ was a spider, and not a tiny one either. What was less clear was whether the wasp would succeed in its quest. I assume the hole is a drainage outlet, but what the wasp was up to was less clear. A little research cleared that up.

  • A Yellow-legged mud-dauber Wasp stuffs a paralysed spider into a hole as future food for its offspring.
  • A Yellow-legged mud-dauber Wasp stuffs a paralysed spider into a hole as future food for its offspring.
  • A Yellow-legged mud-dauber Wasp stuffs a paralysed spider into a hole as future food for its offspring.
  • A Yellow-legged mud-dauber Wasp stuffs a paralysed spider into a hole as future food for its offspring.
  • A Yellow-legged mud-dauber Wasp stuffs a paralysed spider into a hole as future food for its offspring.
  • A Yellow-legged mud-dauber Wasp stuffs a paralysed spider into a hole as future food for its offspring.

The wasp is a Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp (Sceliphron caementarium). Not sure what kind of spider it is, but I do know its days are numbered. Sadly for the spider, it will not be a swift end. According to Wikipedia, “After building a cell of the nest, the female wasp captures several spiders. The captured prey are stung and paralyzed before being placed in the nest (usually 6-15 per cell), and then a single egg is deposited on the prey within each cell. The wasp then seals the cell with a thick mud plug. After finishing a series of cells, she leaves and does not return.” Notice that the spider is paralyzed, not dead. Got to have fresh food for the kids!

Posted for Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here.

12 thoughts on “Seriously subdued spider in seven shocking scenes”

    1. Graham's avatarGraham Post author

      These do too, only inside the window frame. It won’t be as big as some other, but it will be considerably more secure. I always thought they built them on walls and under eaves, but I guess they have a wider range of options.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. bushboy's avatarbushboy

        I have them wherever they want 🙄 When they can sneak inside especially the laundry, I have to check my raincoats for mud nests.
        One time I couldn’t get my chainsaw started, did everything I could think of and resorted taking into the shop.
        The exhaust was filled with Dauber mud.

        Liked by 1 person

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