Fauna
Insect · GBIF taxon 8107175

Organ-pipe Mud-dauber Wasp

Trypoxylon politum

Also known as Organ Pipe Mud Dauber, Pipe Organ Wasp

Organ-pipe mud-dauber wasps build distinctive, parallel clay tubes attached to sheltered walls, eaves, and rock faces that resemble the pipes of a church organ. Uniquely among solitary wasps, males remain at the nest to guard the entrance against parasites while the female hunts orb-weaver spiders to provision their young. The female stuns spiders with a precision sting and packs dozens into each mud chamber before sealing a single egg inside.

Solitary WaspArchitecturalSpider Hunter
Organ-pipe Mud-dauber Wasp reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Michael K. Oliver, Ph.D., some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael K. Oliver, Ph.D. · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Orb-weaver Spiders
  • Jumping Spiders
  • Crab Spiders
Predators
  • Songbirds
  • Lizards
  • Cuckoo Wasps
ThreatsPesticide application, removal of mud nests from human structures
HabitatsDeciduous forests, barn rafters, porch overhangs, sheltered cliff faces
Life span1 year
Classification
  1. FamilyCrabronidae
  2. SpeciesTrypoxylon politum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Extremely docile and rarely stings; leave nests undisturbed and observe safely from a short distance.
Responsible observation
  • Watch Nest Building: Observe females carrying wet clay pellets to craft vertical parallel tubes on sheltered surfaces.
  • Maintain Distance: Keep a distance of one meter when viewing active nests so guarding males remain calm.
  • Preserve Mud Tunnels: Leave nests intact on structures to allow beneficial spider control in surrounding gardens.
Related species
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