Solitary, narrow-bodied wasps. Black with yellow or whitish-yellow bands and spots. They fold their fore-wings longitudinally when at rest. Adults are predatory, hunting the larvae of moths and beetles to feed their offspring. The female searches for a nest site, building a nest of a few cells and provisioning each cell with prey. One egg is laid at the end of a thread which is attached to the top of the cell before provisioning starts. After each cell is provisioned with several prey items it is sealed. Nationally: 9 genera with 23 species (including 1 species restricted to the Channel Islands and in addition 2 vagrant species). Often called ‘potter wasps’ after the form of their mud-constructed nests. Five of the genera have been selected for further comment.
