This is a solitary Mason wasp in the subfamily Eumeninae. Undescribed and unnamed in the scientific literature at this time, it has been given the designation ‘species F’ until it can be named. It was discovered by Dr. Matthias Buck, who identified this wasp (photo A) on the BugGuide website. This mostly black wasp is approximately 3/4 inch in length. On the thorax there is a yellow collar across the pronotum, and a small, yellow triangle on the scutellum. The abdomen of the female has a yellow band on the first tergum and a yellow band on the second tergum. The male has incomplete yellow bands on tergum 3 & 4. The wings are brown with a blue tint.
This wasp is probably uncommon in summer. It has been found in Fontenelle Forest in mid-June, mid-July nectaring on Virginia Mountain Mint and in early October nectaring on goldenrod. It was found most recently in mid-October on blooming common rue in the restored pollinator garden in the FF wetlands (Photos D-F).
Members of the sub-family Eumeninae are solitary and provision their nests with caterpillars. One egg is placed in each cell with several caterpillars. A few build mud nests, but the majority use preexisting cavities like beetle borings in dead wood or abandoned nests of other wasps.
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