We have a great variety of wasps in our yard — and we co-exist very peacefully! Not only do we co-exist, but they’re an important part of the balance of nature in our yard.
NOTE: I’m not an expert in identifying insects, so some may be misidentified, but I often submit images to BugGuide.net, and they ARE experts. You can create an account for free and use their services.
Great black digger wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus)
- Learn more:
- Univ. of Minn.: Great black wasp
- Univ. of Wisconsin – Milwaukee: Great black wasp
Carrot wasp – female (Gasteruption assectator)
This very small wasp caught our eye as it sat on the wall of our house.
If you look closely, you can see its red stripes.
- Learn more:
- Cape May Wildlife: Carrot wasp
- Univ. of Wisc. at Milwaukee: Carrot wasp
Potter or mason wasp
We saw this nectaring on goldenrod, minding its own business as I took its photo. It’s the kind of insect people immediately want to kill, but it wasn’t aggressive at all.
When I was researching it, of course, many of the search results are for “pest control.” Pest control for a beneficial pollinator!?!
- Learn more:
- Galveston Cty Master Gardeners: Beneficial insects — Potter wasp
Cicada hawk digger moth (Sphecius speciosus)
- Learn more:
- Univ. of Kentucky: Cicada killer wasps
- Rutgers NJ Ag Experimental Station: Cicada killer wasp
Four-toothed mason wasp (Monobia quadridens)
- Learn more:
- Univ. of Wisconsin Milwaukee: Four-toothed mason wasp
Great golden digger wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)
- Learn more:
- Univ. of Wisconsin Milwaukee: Great golden digger wasp
Trogus pennator (no common name)
- Learn more:
- Univ. or Wisconsin Milwaukee: Trogus pennator
Organ pipe mud dauber (Trypoxylon politum)
When we visit North Carolina, we’ve seen numerous mud dauber nests attached to the sides of cob buildings.
These are aptly named organ pipe mud daubers and Wikipedia describes them as an “exceedingly docile type of wasp and generally pleasant to have around.”
This has been our experience when we visit.
The nests are quite attractive, and our son named his natural building school Mud Dauber School of Natural Building!
- Learn more:
- Hilton Pond: Pipe organ mud dauber
- Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: Organ pipe mud dauber
- Humane Gardener: The surprising life of a gentle mud dauber wasp