1-1 1/8". Slender. Cylindrical 1 segmented "waist" (pedicel) between thorax and abdomen. Black with large yellow area on prothorax; yellow markings on thorax, pedicel, and 1st abdominal segment. Legs mostly yellow. Wings brown to black.

Meadows, Cliffs, or overhanging roofs of buildings.

Throughout North America.

Adults drink nectar. Larva feeds on spiders.

Using its mandibels, female shapes small masses of moist mud into balls and makes joined tubular cells. Into each cell female stuffs 1 paralyzed spider, immobilized by venom, then lays 1 egg on spider and closes cell with mud. Additional cells are built parallel to the 1st. Larvae grow to 3/8- 1/2" long, then spin semitransparent reddish-brown cocoons in the cells. Males are rarely seen before midsummer and often visit flowers for nectar in late summer and autumn

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