This is a solitary Mason wasp in the subfamily Eumeninae. This is a small, mostly black wasp, approximately 3/4 inch in length. The face of the female is mostly black, except for an arched ivory spot on the clypeus (the area on the face below the antennae – photo A). On the male the clypeus is all ivory. There is an ivory collar on the forward region of the thorax. There are also 2 transverse ivory bands on the abdomen. A distinguishing characteristic for identifying this species is that the anterior surface of all tibiae are mostly ivory colored (photo B). The antennae are black. The wings are black with a purplish tint.
As far as is known this species is uncommon in Fontenelle Forest. It has been seen on the Wetlands boardwalk in mid to late September and in Fontenelle Forest in June.
This wasp nests in borings in wood and uses mud for cell partitions. A female was seen on the wetlands boardwalk gathering dirt. She was apparently mixing the dirt with saliva to form mud balls (photos A and B) to be used to seal off the nest. The female provisions her nest with paralyzed caterpillars for the wasp larvae.
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