Hanging-mud-nest Wasp - Pison sp.

Family SPHECIDAE

This page contains pictures and information about Hanging-mud-nest Wasps that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.


Body length 12mm

We sometimes saw this medium size black wasp collection mud on sandy soil. One distinct characteristic of this wasp is its emarginated eyes, which is also the characteristic of wasps in tribe Trypoxylonini.


Nest size 30x40mm

We found this small mud nest (above photo) under a shrub in late summer 2006. There was one small hole on the nest. We brought it home to see what would come out. Few days later we found four small brown wasps came out. However, there were only three more holes on the nest. Opened the empty cells we found some spider body remains.



We saw this wasp collecting mud on footpath in Carbrook Wetland on Sep 2009.



This wasp collects the sandy mud to build the hanging mud nest on low stems of plant. After we learnt where to expect those nests, they are not hard to be found.



The wasps spend most of their time on collecting mud and build the hanging nest. From reference information, the wasp prey on spiders. We had opened one empty cell and found some spider body remains.



? Pison sp., body length 15mm

We saw this wasp coming out from this hole. We do not know if the hole is the wasp's nest or the wasp just checked the hole for prey.



Photos were taken in Karawatha Forest on Sep 2008.

Reference:
1. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, pp 991.
2. Northern Territory Insects, A Comprehensive Guide CD - Graham Brown, 2009.