African Mud Dauber vs Arctic Sulphur
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | African Mud Dauber | Arctic Sulphur |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sceliphron spirifex | Colias nastes |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sphecidae | Pieridae |
| Size | 20-28 mm | 36-46 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Throughout Africa | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Rocky Mountain alpine zones |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
African Mud Dauber
A slender black and yellow wasp with an extremely narrow petiole waist. It constructs mud nests on walls and ceilings, provisioning them with paralyzed spiders.
Did You Know?
A single mud nest cell may contain up to 25 paralyzed spiders stacked together as food for one developing larva.
Arctic Sulphur
A pale greenish-white butterfly with dusky wing margins and small dark discal spots. Its subdued coloration helps it absorb warmth while basking with wings spread. It rarely strays far from its alpine or arctic habitat.
Did You Know?
On overcast days, this butterfly can raise its body temperature 10 degrees above air temperature by basking laterally to maximize solar absorption.