Bug FAQSpider Wasp
Ceropales maculata · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Pompilidae
Also called: Spotted Cuckoo Spider Wasp
Ceropales maculata is a small wasp, females 6-9 mm and males 5-7.5 mm long. It has bold white markings on a black body, orange-red legs and very long hind legs.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The wasp shows distinct bold white markings on its black body.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Females measure 6-9 mm, while males are 5-7.5 mm long.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Adults have been observed feeding on the flowers of wild carrot (Daucus carota).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species is univoltine, with adults present from May to September.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults can be seen between May and September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Ceropales maculata has a Holarctic distribution, occurring in North America and Eurasia.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
In Britain, the lack of a red band on the abdomen distinguishes it from C. variegata.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 38 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Illinois, New York, California, Tennessee, Missouri.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are Ceropales maculata adults active?
Adults are on the wing from May through September.
Source: Wikipedia
What habitats should I look in to find them?
Search sandy places like heathlands, coastal dunes and sand pits.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell this wasp apart from similar species?
In Britain, the absence of a red abdominal band sets it apart from C. variegata.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Pompilidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceropales_maculata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.