Clayman's Mud Dauber Wasp
Sceliphron assimile
This record describes Sceliphron assimile (species). Recorded family: Sphecidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
hind legs mostly black; in S. caementarium , the basal half of metatibia and most of the tarsi are yellow (males of S. assimile can sometimes have a yellow streak on the inner margin of the tibia, and yellowish tarsi)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Sphecidae (Thread-waisted Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Sceliphrinae
- Tribe
- Sceliphrini
- Genus
- Sceliphron (Black Mud-dauber Wasps)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
s. TX to Panama / W. Indies - Map
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Sceliphron assimile (Dahlbom 1843)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Sceliphron assimile. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Clayman's Mud Dauber Wasp (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by George Waldren; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , v belov , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Clayman's Mud Dauber Wasp
What is Clayman's Mud Dauber Wasp?
Clayman's Mud Dauber Wasp (Sceliphron assimile) is a species in the family Sphecidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Clayman's Mud Dauber Wasp?
hind legs mostly black; in S. caementarium , the basal half of metatibia and most of the tarsi are yellow (males of S. assimile can sometimes have a yellow streak on the inner margin of the tibia, and yellowish tarsi)
Where is Clayman's Mud Dauber Wasp found?
Range: s. TX to Panama / W. Indies - Map