Is this a Mason Wasp

[Ranirat]

Hello - I found this web site whilst trying to find information about a little insect which has decided to use my office caravan as a "hive". I think it may be a Mason Wasp but would really like confirmation.


I have a couple of other images posted in the library, but the wasp was getting a little too near to my fingers to keep my camera hand still!

At the moment it has crawled into an old electric cable wire in the ceiling and I know it took a small, thin green caterpillar in there as (unbeknown to me at the time) it dropped it on my desk and then retrieved it from where I had put it outside!

Since then it had crawled into a paper-holder spring I use so I presume that this is now packed with mud, larve and another caterpillar.

Am I right to just leave it be rather than chase it out? I would not be asking this question if it were a common wasp believe me!!

[JRsbugs]

Hi Ranirat, welcome to WAB.

Looks like another Ancistrocerus gazella, I would leave it.

Has it any way to escape when doors and windows are shut? I'm wondering how the new ones will get out, but I imagine you would be there most days. If they decided to come out on a weekend and you weren't there it could spell death. I don't know when they should emerge.

Janet

[Ranirat]

Thanks for your fast reply Janet!
I am here most days, even over the weekend. There is a small window which is always open albeit not fully. If they are only now being "prepared", how long will it be before they are ready to emerge?
I have often seen these around outside but have never observed this. Maybe I just missed it previously!!
Sheila

[Ranirat]

Sorry - just realised that you said you didn't know their life-cycle!
I have searched the web, and the only info I can find is here:-

Eumeninae - Encyclopedia of Life

Will just have to keep watching..... lol