Male Cerceris are typically smaller than their female counterparts. They can be recognised by the additional visible tergite (T7), although it is often small, and by the number of antennal segments (a total of 13, rather than 12).

The colour pattern of males typically differs somewhat from the female. For example, in southern C. antipodes males the anterolateral spots of T2 are typically large and medially joined to form a continuous basal band.