The genus name, Chalybion, is from the Greek word chalybos, meaning "steel" or "metal," and refers to the metallic blue coloring of these wasps (Jaeger 1947).
This species is common and widespread throughout North America, and is not considered in need of special conservation efforts.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
This species sometimes nests around buildings, and may thus be a small nuisance, but its inoffensive habits and use of spiders as prey generally prevent it from being a pest (Bambara and Becker).
This species may help to control the population of black widow spiders (O'Brien 1998).
Adults of this species feed on flower nectar, and possibly pollen. Individual wasps get most of their nutrition while they are larvae, feeding on spiders provided by their mother. Adult females capture orb-weavers (family Araneidae) and comb-footed spiders (family Theridiidae), often including black widow spiders (genus Latrodectus). These wasps capture their prey by paralyzing them with a sting. Some have been observed landing on orb webs and luring the spider out of its retreat, captureing and paralyzing the spider without getting caught in its web and becoming prey itself (Bohart & Menke 1976, Hogue 1974, O'Brien 1998).
The blue mud wasp, Chalybion californicum, occurs throughout North America, from southern Canada south to northern Mexico (O'Brien 1998).
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
This species is found in many different habitat types, anywhere flowers, spiders, nest sites, and a little water may be found (O'Brien 1998).
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; savanna or grassland ; chaparral ; forest
These wasps are metallic blue, blue-green or blackish in color. Males 9mm to 13mm (3/8in.-1/2in.) are typically smaller than the females at 20mm to 23mm (3/4in.-7/8in.) Both the males and females share similar body structure in that their waists are short and narrow; both having slight body bristles. The antennae and legs are black for both male and female. The wings of both the males and females are opaque and tinted the same color as the body (Hogue 1974).
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry
We don't know much about courtship or mating in this species. They probably only need to mate once, though may mate more often. "Sleeping" aggregations (see Behavior) may also be part of the mate-finding process (Bohart and Menke 1976).
During the summer, female blue mud wasps build nests by bringing water to abandoned mud nests made by other species of wasps (mainly the genus Sceliphron). They form new mud chambers, stock them with paralyzed spiders and a single egg, then seal the chambers with more mud. Their offspring stay in the chamber, feeding on the spiders, and then pupating in a thin silk cocoon. They spend the winter in the nest, emerging the following spring as adults (Baker and Bambara 1999, Bohart and Menke 1976, O'Brien 1998).
Chalybion californicum, the common blue mud dauber of North America, is a metallic blue species of mud dauber wasp first described by Henri Louis Frédéric de Saussure in 1867. It is not normally aggressive towards humans.[2] It is similar in shape and colour to the steel-blue cricket hunter (Chlorion aerarium). Like other types of wasps, males do not have an ovipositor, and therefore cannot sting. It is ranged from northern Mexico to southern Canada, including most of the United States.[3] It has also been introduced to regions including Hawaii, Bermuda, Croatia and other European countries.[4]
Females can build their own nests, but often refurbish nests abandoned by other wasps and bees,[4] particularly those of Sceliphron caementarium,[5] removing any spiders captured by S. caementarium and the larva, replacing it with an egg of its own and freshly caught spiders.[3] They go through multiple generations in a year.[2]
This species is most famous for its predation of black widow spiders.[2] Adults feed on the nectar of flowers, which powers their flight. They pollinate some common wildflowers, including Berberis vulgaris, Daucus carota, and Zizia aurea. Larvae are fed spiders, often Latrodectus mactans. They prefer to hunt prey on the ground or under rocks.[4]
Chalybion californicum, the common blue mud dauber of North America, is a metallic blue species of mud dauber wasp first described by Henri Louis Frédéric de Saussure in 1867. It is not normally aggressive towards humans. It is similar in shape and colour to the steel-blue cricket hunter (Chlorion aerarium). Like other types of wasps, males do not have an ovipositor, and therefore cannot sting. It is ranged from northern Mexico to southern Canada, including most of the United States. It has also been introduced to regions including Hawaii, Bermuda, Croatia and other European countries.
Chalybion californicum là một loài côn trùng cánh màng trong họ Sphecidae, thuộc chi Chalybion. Loài này được de Saussure miêu tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1867.[2] Chúng chỉ ăn loài nhện quả phụ đen.[3] Nó không xây dựng một tổ, nhưng sử dụng tổ bị bỏ rơi bởi ong bắp cày bùn khác. Giống như các loài tò vò bùn khác, nó hiếm khi hung hăng. Loài tò vò này thường được xem là có lợi, bởi vì chúng giúp điều tiết dân số của loài nhện góa phụ đen.[3]
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Chalybion californicum là một loài côn trùng cánh màng trong họ Sphecidae, thuộc chi Chalybion. Loài này được de Saussure miêu tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1867. Chúng chỉ ăn loài nhện quả phụ đen. Nó không xây dựng một tổ, nhưng sử dụng tổ bị bỏ rơi bởi ong bắp cày bùn khác. Giống như các loài tò vò bùn khác, nó hiếm khi hung hăng. Loài tò vò này thường được xem là có lợi, bởi vì chúng giúp điều tiết dân số của loài nhện góa phụ đen.
