Common Blue Mud-Dauber Wasps

Subject:  Black Flying Insect
Geographic location of the bug:  Upstate New York
Date: 07/20/2021
Time: 06:56 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Helli, We have these insects around our deck for the first time this year. We have lived here for 30+ years. Are they wasps, hornets or something else? Thank you!
How you want your letter signed:  Susan

Common Blue Mud-Dauber Wasps

Dear Susan,
We believe these are Common Blue Mud-Dauber Wasps,Chalybion californicum, which are pictured on BugGuide.  According to BugGuide:  “A large, active, blue-black wasp with irridescent blue wings. Frequents flowers for nectar and buildings for nest sites.” and “Females construct mud nests in sheltered areas, often under the eaves of buildings, and provision them with spiders.”  We suspect they are searching for mud near your deck for nest building.

The post Common Blue Mud-Dauber Wasps appeared first on What's That Bug?.