Four-toothed Mason Wasp
Monobia quadridens
Photo by Masa Nomura
Summary
This large solitary wasp is often found nectaring on flowers such as goldenrod, aster, rattlesnake master and boneset. Although nectar is the primary source of nutrition, it’s known that these slender wasps also ingest pollen– but are they actively or accidentally consuming it? Research is ongoing.
Females choose a preexisting cavity for their nesting site, provisioning it with moth caterpillars and partitioning it with mud or sand. As with the nests of many solitary wasps, an empty (vestibular) cell is left at the entrance to the nesting tube, probably as protection against predators.
Ecosystem Connections
The four-toothed mason wasp drinks nectar and transfers pollen from a variety of plants, including goldenrod, aster, rattlesnake master and boneset. It hunts the caterpillars of small moths such as fruitworm, leafroller and webworm moths.