There are few Australian Bembix that can be unambiguously identified to species level based on the colour pattern alone … but this one can! Commonly referred to as the ‘Panda Sand Wasp’, Bembix vespiformis is unmistakable. There is some variation … the apical segments are not always orange (particularly in the east), and T2-4 may be all black or have white spots. But the large, tapered white spots on T2 are a consistent feature.

Bembix vespiformis

Image courtesy Kerry Stuart
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/198711178

Despite the distinctive colour pattern, I like to check as many other features as possible against a putative species description. For example, here the colour of the mandibles, legs, mesoscutum all fit with Bembix vespiformis … as do the 7 long, dark pecten spines on each of the front basitarsi (arrows).

Note that this is one of many Bembix species widely distributed across continental Australia.

Bembix vespiformis

Image courtesy Kerry Stuart
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/195650631