Gymnomerus laevipes

12-15mm. Black with yellow markings and with a conspicuous box-shaped head. The abdomen has a yellow band across the base of each tergite. The thorax is black except for a yellow collar behind the head. The head is black except for two small yellow spots behind the eyes.

Females (dark faces) have a deep semicircular notch on the lower edge of the yellow clypeus.

One of many similar black and yellow striped wasps. Care is needed with identification and expert help should be sought if possible.

Resembes Odynerus spinipes which has a less square head, a more hairy thorax and a straight front edge to the pronotum.

Found in a wide variety of open habitats, associated with its nesting and feeding sites and prey habitats.

Recorded from May until September, with males mostly found from late May and June, and females during June and July.

Preys on weevil larvae of the genera Hypera (Curculionidae). A tube-dweller forming a series of 4 to 12 linearly arranged cells separated by clay partitions in hollow plant stems, e.g. bramble, burdock, elder and thistles. An egg is laid in the cell before about 20 weevil larvae are added.

Distributed from Cornwall to Kent and north to Nottinghamshire and East Norfolk, with an isolated record from Westmorland. Lack of records since 1970 indicates that this species has recently undergone a significant decline, especially in the northern part of its range.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.