Sceliphron caementarium (Drury) 1773. This black and
yellow mud dauber is probably the most widespread and familiar of the
sphecines, due to its synanthropic habits. Transported via cargo, it
has established itself in Europe, Australia, and many Pacifc Islands
(Bohart and Menke 1976). In the New World, S. caementarium occurs
from southern Canada to Central America and the West Indies (Krombein
1979). It is found over much of Michigan, and is probably more
widespread in the UP than collection records indicate.
BIOLOGY: Multicelled mud nests are constructed in sheltered
spots such as sheds, barns, picnic pavilions, and attics. Spider prey
belong mostly to the families Araneidae and Thomisidae (Rau 1935b,
Muma and Jeffers 1945, Shafer 1949, Horner and Klein 1979). A
favorable site may be used for many years, sometimes resulting in an
enormous conglomeration of nests being occupied by both Chalybion
californicum and S. caementarium.
FLOWER RECORDS: Berberis vulgaris, Clematis virginiana,
Daucus carota, Pyracantha sp., Spiraea sp.
COLLECTION DATES: 250 specimens, 24 May to 1 October. Most
records are from late June to early August. Wasps emerging in
greenhouses in Michigan have been seen as early as mid-March.
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