Green larvae mud case - Ask Extension
Good morning!
I thought there was just mud on my outdoor portion of my window sill with some grass. As I started to brush it off, it is really some g...
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Green larvae mud case #812040
Asked September 24, 2022, 11:36 AM EDT
Good morning!
I thought there was just mud on my outdoor portion of my window sill with some grass. As I started to brush it off, it is really some green worm like larvae?
What are these?
Good or bad?
I have never seen this before.
Thank you!
Have a great weekend!
Vicki
Cecil County Maryland
Expert Response
Hello Vicki,
These are the provisioned prey of a solitary wasp and are harmless. You can leave the caterpillars outside to feed the birds if you haven't already discarded them. Solitary wasp females work alone to hunt insect prey for her offspring, which she then paralyzes and stashes in constructed nest cells (usually one cell for each egg) made of mud, dried grass, or a combination of materials. Since they do not live in a communal nest with siblings, the way honey bees, yellowjackets, or hornets do, they are not highly motivated to defend it with stings and therefore rarely bother people unless caught and trapped. Some solitary wasps specialize in hunting certain insect prey, like crickets, katydids, cicadas, spiders, or in this case, caterpillars. Once she has finished provisioning cells and laying eggs, the female wasp dies. Males do not partake in nest-building or provisioning activity (nor can they sting). Both sexes visit flowers as pollinators to drink nectar as an energy source.
Miri
These are the provisioned prey of a solitary wasp and are harmless. You can leave the caterpillars outside to feed the birds if you haven't already discarded them. Solitary wasp females work alone to hunt insect prey for her offspring, which she then paralyzes and stashes in constructed nest cells (usually one cell for each egg) made of mud, dried grass, or a combination of materials. Since they do not live in a communal nest with siblings, the way honey bees, yellowjackets, or hornets do, they are not highly motivated to defend it with stings and therefore rarely bother people unless caught and trapped. Some solitary wasps specialize in hunting certain insect prey, like crickets, katydids, cicadas, spiders, or in this case, caterpillars. Once she has finished provisioning cells and laying eggs, the female wasp dies. Males do not partake in nest-building or provisioning activity (nor can they sting). Both sexes visit flowers as pollinators to drink nectar as an energy source.
Miri
Thank you so much!
Have good week!
On 09/26/2022 11:16 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
You're welcome!
