About Sceliphron caementarium (Drury, 1773)
Sceliphron caementarium (Drury, 1773) can reach a body length of 24–28 mm (15⁄16–1+3⁄32 in). Its petiole is generally black and roughly half the length of the entire abdomen; however, populations in the desert southwest of the United States often have a yellow petiole. The thorax has various yellow markings, while the abdomen is normally black, with a yellow propodeum, a trait typical of females. The eyes and antennae are black, the legs are yellow with black trochanters and femurs, and within the United States, this is the only species that has yellow-marked legs. The wings are tawny in color.
S. caementarium is widespread across Canada, the United States, Central America, and the West Indies. It has been introduced to many Pacific Islands, including Australia, Hawaii, and Japan, as well as Peru and Europe. It has become established in multiple Mediterranean Basin countries: Croatia, France (including Corsica), Italy, Cyprus, Malta, the Canary Islands, and Madeira, plus Austria, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. This species occurs in a wide range of habitats, including rock ledges, man-made structures, puddles and other water edges, cypress domes, stands of long leaf pines (Pinus palustris), and areas with turkey oaks.
