mud dauber

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mud dauber

n.
Any of various solitary predatory wasps, especially of the families Sphecidae and Crabronidae, that build nests of mud and provision them with paralyzed prey.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

mud dauber

n
(Animals) any of various wasps of the family Sphecidae, that construct cells of mud or clay in which they lay their eggs and store live insects as food for the developing larvae. See also digger wasp
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

mud′ daub`er


n.
any of several wasps of the family Sphecidae that build a nest of mud cells and provision it with paralyzed spiders or insects for the larvae to feed on.
[1855–60, Amer.]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.mud dauber - wasp that constructs mud cells on a solid base in which females place eggs laid in paralyzed insect larvaemud dauber - wasp that constructs mud cells on a solid base in which females place eggs laid in paralyzed insect larvae
sphecoid, sphecoid wasp - any of various solitary wasps
family Sphecidae, Sphecidae - mud daubers; some digger wasps
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in periodicals archive ?
Vetter (author); DIRTDOBBER BLUES; Louisiana State University Press (Fiction: General) $22.50 ISBN: 9780807138304
A multimedia work of art, Cyril Vetter's first novel, Dirtdobber Blues, encourages readers to experience the semi-biographical story of blues musician Charles "Butch" Hornsby through many different avenues.
Reminiscent of Beat-era texts like Kerouac's On the Road, the narration in Dirtdobber Blues serves in part to show the meandering and high-seeking Hornsby at his most authentic -- spontaneous and carefree, but at a cost: "The year 1969 folded into 1970 in a grass/tobacco/beer/gin/Jack Daniels/pizza/musical instrument/hamburger/donut haze.