Landcare Research - Manaaki Whenua

Landcare-Research -Manaaki Whenua

Mason wasp

Pison spinolae Shuckard


Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Sphecidae

Size range

  • About 16 mm long

Distribution

  • Native species found throughout New Zealand

Life History

  • The female builds a nest of several cells made of mud, often in folds of curtains or keyholes
  • She lays an egg in each cell and provides a paralysed orbweb spider as food for the emerging larva
  • Adults eat nectar
  • Makes a whining noise while processing mud for the nest

Additional images