Over the rest of its huge range, it has no sympatric congeners and shows wide phenotypic variation.

[1] For example, in western Europe, the females in north-western populations are predominantly black, pubescent dorsally with narrow transverse strips of grey at the rear of each tergum, interrupted medially.

[1] P. cinereus shows a distinct preference for loose sand and may be abundant in sheltered, sunny areas in dune systems.

Most frequently, the prey is temporarily interred whilst a suitable nest site is sought and a burrow excavated.

The wasp then closes the burrow, pulling in the walls and roof with its mandibles and then tamping the soil with the tip of the abdomen.

[3] P. cinereus is ecologically versatile and takes a wide variety of prey and is the dominant pompilid spider wasp in many parts of its range.