This is a medium-sized wasp approximately 1 inch in length. It is all black except for the 3rd abdominal segment which is orange. The antennae and legs are black. The wings are black on fresh individuals. They can become faded on older individuals. This wasp is similar in appearance to Ammophila pictipennis, but the darker wings and more restricted orange on the abdomen distinguishes it.
These thread-waisted wasps are common on flowers from mid-summer until frost.
The prey for this species is caterpillars. A single-celled burrow is dug by the female and provisioned with a paralyzed caterpillar on which she lays an egg.
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