Mud Daubers/Hornets/Wasps

Can't answer the 'why' but I get them in the same places. I spray their nest with the Raid for that purpose (for the furnace intake, I refrain from using the furnace for a while but I dismantle the nest and pull it out--or vacuum it out--once I'm sure the hornets are dead). This takes care of the problem--at least until next year. ;-) How to prevent them? Wish I knew!

These critters have an attraction to propane. The first thing to add to your new TT as summer approaches is a screen over your furnace vent to keep them out. Various shapes are available at most RV and camping supply dealers to fit your RV. Gas grills have the same problems, but, with them it is often with spiders crawling up the lines causing blockage. Who knows why. Perhaps the little buggers get high on the propane fumes. Carefully clean out the vents and add a screen and all should be OK.

They eat spiders so spiders must be about. You asked!

mockturtle wrote:
How to prevent them? Wish I knew!

First things I buy for any trailer is enough man screens to cover ALL orifices including fridge vents, furnace vent, water heater compartment slots in the door, etc. Never had any insect problem. Simple solution.

Their favorite spot on my MH is under the awning. Every year! Raid.

Ditto on the screens....furnace, frig and w/h. They're pricey little stinkers, but last a LONG time and look better, IMHO, than the DIY type. The ones we put on our '07 HTT still looked brand new when we sold it last spring. First purchase for the new TT.

They also build on the fan blades of your AC!
AC will sound like a bearing is out, and all it is is dauber nest!

I had a mud dauber nest in the squirrel cage of one of my AC units last year and it locked it up. This year I added metal window screening to the inside of the AC cover vents to try to keep them from getting in.

Insects are "hard wired," They have only instinct to get through the life cycle. There s no decision making process involved in nest location. Knock down a nest and it is very likely that they will return and restart a new one in the exact same spot. That is because they only have millions of years of instinct implanted in their tiny brains, and they will build where this instinct tells them to.

So that is the reason why. Don't believe it? Then disregard my 35 years in the insect business and Google it.


I will leave control of same to others.

RnTBnB wrote:
I had a mud dauber nest in the squirrel cage of one of my AC units last year and it locked it up. This year I added metal window screening to the inside of the AC cover vents to try to keep them from getting in.

Ahhhh ... good tip - thanks. Never thought of that. That is my next modification, I guess. The only problem is I will have to install it during my June camping trip. Hopefully it is not too hot one early morning before the AC is needed.