What are these?

[LittleDog]

Over the past year I have noticed in the eaves by my front door mounds of about 1 1/2 inches wide and are gray in color. I am able to knock them down with ease but after I do this there is still some residual "stuff" left on the house. I have not seen any birds or insects around these mounds so have no ideas who builds them or what they are for. Has anyone else seen these and might know what they are. I can't believe that I am the only one who has seen these.

Thanx

John

[LndLocked]

sounds like Mudd Dauber (type of Wasp) nests

https://www.google.com/search?q=mud+dauber+nest&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=li&authuser=0

[zcaveman]

Over the past year I have noticed in the eaves by my front door mounds of about 1 1/2 inches wide and are gray in color. I am able to knock them down with ease but after I do this there is still some residual "stuff" left on the house. I have not seen any birds or insects around these mounds so have no ideas who builds them or what they are for. Has anyone else seen these and might know what they are. I can't believe that I am the only one who has seen these.

Thanx

John

Since you did not post a picture I would agree that they are mud dauber nests. Just remove them and when you do you might see some wasp looking insects leaving the nests.

Z

[jblum315]

I think (from early childhood memories) that mud daubers look like wasps and build nests like wasps, but they are not wasps and do not sting.

[LndLocked]

I think (from early childhood memories) that mud daubers look like wasps and build nests like wasps, but they are not wasps and do not sting.

They are a type of wasp and while not aggressive, they can sting.

"Mud dauber (sometimes called "dirt dauber," "dirt digger," "dirt dobber," "dirt diver", or "mud wasp") is a name commonly applied to a number of wasps from either the family Sphecidae or Crabronidae that build their nests from mud. Mud daubers are long, slender wasps about 1-inch (25 mm) in length;[1] the latter two species above have thread-like waists. The name of this wasp group comes from the nests that are made by the females, which consist of mud molded into place by the wasp's mandibles. Mud daubers are rarely aggressive and stings are very uncommon."

[LittleDog]

This place is absolutely amazing!!!

Thanx

John