HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Aculeata > Crabronidae > Philanthinae (Philanthidae)

Another medium-sized (8-13mm body length), black-and-yellow species, where the abdomen has five yellow bands. It is superficially similar to Cerceris arenaria except that the clypeus is yellow with a raised margin rather than black, and the two yellow marks on the face are larger. It also has much darker legs, certainly more red than yellow, hence its common name.

Cerceris ruficornis has a far more restricted distribution than either Cerceris arenaria or Cerceris rybyensis and is more likely to be found on sandy heaths. It’s flight period and nesting biology is similar to those species apart for the fact that it doesn’t nest gregariously.

Of the six Cerceris species on the British List there is only one other than could possibly be encountered locally and that is the rare Cerceris quinquefasciata, which is a very close relative of Cerceris ruficornis.