Mud Dauber Control

Mud Daubers In Central Texas

Mud daubers are the wasps behind the tube-shaped mud nests on so many Texas walls, and they are about as harmless as a stinging insect gets.

Because mud daubers are solitary and do not defend a colony, they are far less of a threat than the social wasps, and their main downside is the mud nests they leave behind.

Signs You Have Mud Daubers

Mud daubers are known by their nests more than the wasps:

• Tube or organ-pipe mud nests on walls, eaves, and under overhangs.
• Solitary wasps building or provisioning a nest.
• Mud nests in sheds, garages, and on porches.
• Wasps carrying mud to a nest site.
• Old, hardened mud nests left behind on the structure.

Are Mud Daubers Dangerous?

Mud daubers are essentially harmless. They are solitary and non-aggressive, rarely sting, and have no colony to defend, so they pose little risk to people even up close.

They are actually beneficial, since they hunt spiders, including black widows, to stock their nests. The one reason to remove their nests, beyond appearance, is that abandoned mud dauber nests can later be reused by other, more aggressive wasps.

How We Get Rid of Mud Daubers

Stride treats mud daubers through the five-step Stride Forward process, focused on the nests and nesting spots:

1. Inspect. We find the mud nests on walls, eaves, and in sheds and garages.
2. Identify. We confirm mud daubers and note that they are solitary and beneficial.
3. Recommend. We advise removing the nests and point out where buildup tends to happen.
4. Treat. We remove the mud nests and treat the sheltered spots where they collect.
5. Evaluate. We follow up so old nests are not reused by other wasps.

Our GreenPro certification guides this reduced-risk approach.

How to Keep Mud Daubers Away

Keeping mud daubers down is mostly about the nests:

• Remove or scrape mud nests as they appear.
• Clean and seal sheltered spots under eaves and in sheds.
• Reduce spider populations, which are their food source.
• Keep garages and sheds closed where practical.
• Power-wash favored nest sites to discourage rebuilding.

Mud Dauber Control Frequently Asked Questions

Stride Forward is our Integrated Pest Management program where we partner with our clients in the long-term removal and prevention of pests. Keeping your property free of unwanted insects and rodents works best when we work together.

The program combines habitat manipulation, biological control, cultural behavior changes, and the targeted use of products designed to repel or eradicate pests. Our approach follows five steps, with non-chemical methods prioritized before any product application.

Our Certifications & Awards

Stride Pest Control holds QualityPro and GreenPro certifications through the NPMA’s Foundation for Professional Pest Management, and fewer than 3% of pest control companies nationwide hold both. QualityPro requires background checks on every service member, a drug-free workplace, and 16 standards that exceed state and federal requirements.

Our Austin and Round Rock office operates under Texas Department of Agriculture license TPCL #667951, with Burton Johnston as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our San Antonio office operates under TPCL #827449, with Alex Randall as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our office manager, Michael Honeycutt, is an Associate Certified Entomologist through the Entomological Society of America.

Founded in 2013, we have served nearly 12,000 customers across Central Texas and hold a 4.9-star rating across 2,400+ reviews with an A+ from the BBB.