[4][5] These ground-nesting, solitary bees have pale yellow thoraxes and black abdomens.

Females are 12-13.5 mm and have distinctive orange scopae on their hind legs, although they are often covered with white Cirsium pollen.

[4][5] Melissodes desponsus is found across the northeastern quadrant of the United States, reaching into southern Canada.

[5] This species does not have a widely documented conservation status, although it is listed as vulnerable or imperiled by several regional sources.

The female of the species was described as M. desponsa and the male was described as M. nigripes in 1854 by Frederick Smith.