Mason Wasps in our backyard

An attempt to attract solitary bees to bee boxes placed in our back yard resulted instead in the attraction of the solitary mason wasp Ancistrocerus antilope to the boxes. Over a four-year period more boxes were added, more wasps took up residence, and observations were made of the spring emergence and mating of the wasps, and especially of the provisioning of brood cells by the females. The mutualistic relationship between the wasp and the mites it carries was noted.