According to fossil records, the wasp existed since the Jurassic era. There are over a hundred thousand species in the world. The largest wasp is the Asian giant hornet at 4.5cm and the smallest wasp (also the world’s smallest insect) is a mere 0.135mm.
The Black Mud Wasp can be found all over South Africa. It is dark brown to black and has a long waist of 22-35mm with some red parts around the head, legs and antennae.
This is a solitary wasp, each female living and breeding independently. The adult wasp mainly feed on nectar but the young is carnivorous (needs insects and spiders).
These wasps build mud huts. The female wasp picks up sand and dips it in water then roll a mud ball which she carries to the chosen spot to build her urn looking hut. It takes a few hours of constant flying backward and forward to complete. After the hut is built the female goes out to find some food, she immobilises her prey and carry it to her nest, then she lays her egg on the prey and seals the entrance to the nest to protect her developing larvae from predators.
Wasps stings humans only when they feel threatened or when agitated. Wasps mostly use their sting to immobilise their prey. It is only the female wasp that stings as the male do not have a stinger. Unlike bees, wasps do not die after their sting.
A wasp sting is alkali, it causes a hot burning sensation which lasts for about 10min. Best way to treat a sting is to clean it, put disinfectant on it followed by some ice to reduce the swelling. Some people might have an allergic reaction which can be fatal, they need to be taken to hospital immediately.
