Black-headed Mud-nesting Wasp - ? Pseudabispa or Epiodynerus sp.

FAMILY VESPIDAE

This page contains pictures and information about Black-headed Mud-nesting Wasps that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.


Body length 15mm, collecting mud to build mud pot.



This orange colour Mud-nesting Wasp was collecting mud on a footpath. The pictures were take in Karawatha Forest during mid summer. The wasp looked similar to the Large Potter Wasp but smaller in size, the wings and abdomen colours are different. The head is black in colour.



On Nov 2007, in Karawatha Forest Dantata track, we saw two wasps flying over a sand dome. We waited to see what were they doing. Both of them fly in circle for a few minutes. One landed for a few seconds and picked a batch of sand. Those sand seemed too grainy as the pot nest building material.



On Dec 2008 we found this wasp collecting mud from the half dry soil along the footpath in Karawatha Forest.



We only found these wasps when they were collecting mud. We did not know how their nests look like yet.



From the reference information, they may nest in abandoned mud-nests of Mud-dauber Wasp.



As all other potter wasp, this wasp can also be seen collecting water on temporary water hole.



Reference:
1. Northern Territory Insects, A Comprehensive Guide CD - Graham Brown, 2009.
2. Paper Wasps - Eumeninae sp 1 - Pests and Diseases Image Library, PaDIL.