Crabro cribrarius

I don't think this species has a widely recognised vernacular name but Steven Falk's Flickr album has it as Large Shield Wasp. The NBN Atlas has a completely different vernacular name which I think should say Slender-bodied Digger Wasp (it actually says Slender Bodied Digger Wasp, but assuming it's meant to indicate that it has a slender body then Slender-bodied should be hyphenated).

This was potted from a hogweed flowerhead along with a much smaller Ectemnius continuus. Its forewing was about 10.6mm long and I identified it using the Naturalist's Handbook guide to Solitary Wasps (2nd edition). The speicmen had become a little mouldy which slightly obcured the pattern of the propodeum but although it hasn't photographed well I could see it easily enough. The tee-shaped central section was glossy and deeply ridged, contrasting strongly with the surrounding areas. However the diagram in the key doesn't included any sculpture in the surrounding areas which made me think they should be smooth. They clearly aren't smooth at all, but they are quite differently scultured to the shinier tee-shaped section and so far as what I can tell, that's what's important.

female Crabro cribrarius showing wings and propodeum, Beetley Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 11th July 2025

I had seen one previously, a male complete with bizarre round tibial extensions, also potted from Hogweed. I think I would have used the same key to identify this.

male Crabro cribrarius showing wings and propodeum, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 9th July 2021