This is a mason wasp in the sub-family Eumeninae. It is approximately 5/8 inch long. It is black with a distinctive “smiling face” on the rear part of the thorax. It also has a distinctively shaped yellow band on segment 1 of the abdomen (Photo A). Its prey is moth caterpillars of Amphisbatidae (Leaftier moths) and Gelechiidae (Twirler moths) which it uses to provision its nest in wood borings, sumac stems and old mud dauber nests. This wasp was identified by an expert volunteer, Matthias Buck, at the BugGuide website.
This wasp is considered to be a common eastern species. Nebraska is on the western edge of its range. In Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods it should be considered uncommon.
The wasp shown in photos A, B and C is a female. The female can be identified by the black spot in the yellow on the face (Photo B).
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