See Inside One of These Creepy Nests Commonly Found in Indiana & Kentucky

An Unexpected Surprise

Last weekend, we celebrated my daughter’s birthday with a fun “Neon Moon” themed pool party. I found some glowing neon decorations and party favors online, but since I had to order in bulk, I ended up with a ton of leftovers.

When someone suggested I hand them out at Halloween, I thought it was a great idea. Since we go camping every Halloween, I decided to stash the extras in our camper so I wouldn’t forget.

An Unwanted Camper Guest

Our camper stays under a cover, so I had to shimmy underneath to get inside. As soon as I lifted the cover, I noticed a brown nest, and little flying insects started buzzing out of it.

Naturally, I bolted. But I had to get in my camper, so I ran straight to the internet to figure out what I had just encountered.

What Are Mud Daubers?

The insects I had discovered were mud daubers (also called dirt daubers in the South). These wasps are solitary. They do not live in large colonies or build papery nests like other wasps. Instead, they make their nests out of mud that looks like little pipes stuck to a wall or surface.

Get our free mobile app

How Mud Daubers Use Their Nests

They lay their eggs in the mud nests, and when the larvae hatch, the adults sting and paralyze spiders and bring them back for the larvae to consume. Let that sink in. Those poor spiders are eaten alive by larvae. Greusome! Apparently, black widows are a favorite treat. Yuck. Each pipe is home to one egg, and the rest of the pipe is stuffed with paralyzed or dead spiders. So if you see insects coming out of it, that is probably what it is. If you watch the above video, he takes a nest apart so you can see inside. Looks like that feast was plentiful.

Are Mud Daubers Dangerous?

I was curious if mud daubers were something to be afraid of. I have never had one attack me, but I also do not go out of my way to irritate wasps. We even have a nest near our front door, and they have never bothered me when I go in and out.

It turns out mud daubers are not aggressive. They do have stingers, but they mostly use them for hunting spiders. They typically will not sting people unless they feel threatened.

Should You Remove a Mud Dauber Nest?

If you see a nest, the best option is to leave it alone. If you do need to remove it, make sure it is inactive first and gently scrape it off the surface. In some cultures, wasps are even considered a sign of good luck.

Read More: Will It Sting? Your Guide to Bees, Wasps, and Other Flying Bugs