Malagasy Paper Wasp vs Asian Mud Dauber

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Malagasy Paper Wasp Asian Mud Dauber
Scientific Name Polistes olivaceus Sceliphron curvatum
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Vespidae Sphecidae
Size 15-20 mm 15-25 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Madagascar Central Asia, Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Malagasy Paper Wasp

A slender wasp with an olive-brown body, long dangling legs, and narrow waist. It builds small, exposed paper nests from chewed plant fibers on the underside of leaves and eaves.

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Did You Know?

Females establish dominance hierarchies on the nest, with the queen maintaining her rank through aggressive posturing and antenna drumming.

Asian Mud Dauber

A dark-bodied mud dauber originally from Central Asia now invasive across Europe. It builds mud nests inside buildings and provisions them with spiders.

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Did You Know?

It spread from its native range in India and Central Asia to colonize most of southern and central Europe within just 30 years.