Sphex rufipes Linnaeus, 1758 Episyron rufipes, the red-legged spider wasp, is a red and black or completely black spider-hunting wasp.

The prey are temporarily hung on a nearby plant whilst the burrow is dug.

[4] Both sexes of Episyron rufipes are often seen visiting the flowers of umbellifers for nectar.

[3] Episyron rufipes nests are parasitised by the spider wasp Evagetes pectinipes; the female of which eats the egg of Episyron and then replaces it with her own egg before the nest is resealed.

In Britain, it is widespread and locally common in coastal areas of the south as far north as Yorkshire and Lancashire.