A comparison of the spider prey (Neoscona spp.) of mud daubers (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae; Crabronidae) today and 50 years ago on a national wildlife refuge

Fifty years ago, Frank Davis, now an ESA Fellow, was working on his Masters thesis and described the ecology of mud daubers on the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge.  This was the first description of mud daubers and their prey on the refuge.  In this study we will compare the mud daubers and their spider prey found by Davis with spiders living in the same, nearby or similar habitats today.  The lack of data on the populations of mud daubers and spiders on the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge resulted in the enthusiastic approval of an application for a special use permit to collect mud daubers and spiders on the refuge.