Length 8 to 11 mm. The thorax is foxy brown on top; the abdomen is black with few hairs, except for prominent orange hairs at the tip. The male is much smaller than the female and its hairs are much lighter colour, tending to grey or even white.

Female

• top of propodeum very rugose (roughly textured), less so at the sides
• wing length 8mm or more and unpatterned
• thorax with red, even length hairs
• pale hairs on the abdomen
• a thicker tuft of golden hairs at the tip of the abdomen
• hind tibia and tarsi all orange

Around potential nesting sites such as gardens, playgrounds, sports fields, paths and the sides of roads.

March to June.

Females are often seen nesting alone, but groups of females do occur, even though these groups are never very big.

Widespread and common species in Britain.

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.