What specific morphological feature is noted in mud daubers related to subduing prey?
Extremely slender, almost thread-like petioles for precise abdominal maneuverability.
Morphological differences often arise between solitary and social wasps reflecting their disparate life cycles and primary activities. Mud daubers are a type of solitary wasp known for hunting spiders, which they often immobilize before bringing them to their mud nests. To inject venom precisely into these prey items, mud daubers have evolved an exceptionally slender waist structure. Their petioles are described as being extremely narrow, sometimes appearing almost thread-like. This exaggerated slenderness grants them supreme flexibility in moving their abdomen, allowing them to maneuver the stinger with the exact precision needed to deliver a paralytic dose to their chosen prey item effectively.
