Carbronid and Sphecid wasps are known for constructing distinctive nests with specific architectural designs, which serve as sites for egg-laying and larval development. This study examined the nest characteristics and prey selection for the mud dauber wasp, Sceliphron madraspatanum, at the A.V.C. College campus from January to March 2019. The research focuses on both active and abandoned nests, revealing that S. madraspatanum nests are typically built on bright surfaces, offering protection from water and direct sunlight. The average height of the nests was less than two feet, with a nest length of less than 5 cm, and a cell width or depth of less than 3 cm. On average, there were 6 orifices or cells, with cell lengths ranging from 2.25 cm to 1.92 cm. Most nests had a rectangular shape, although some were irregular. In comparison, active nests were positioned lower to the ground and had fewer orifices or cells than inactive nests. However, the nest length, cell width, depth, and weight of active nests were higher than those of inactive ones. A total of 24 larvae were extracted from 20 cells, weighing approximately 3.15 g. The prey, consisting of 153 paralyzed spiders from the order Araneae, weighed a total of 17.27 g. The findings indicate that the mud dauber wasp exhibits a species-specific nest architecture and preys on spiders within agroecosystems. This research suggests that mud dauber wasps may be beneficial insects in agricultural environments.
