Sphodrotes have:
- 3 submarginal cells in the forewing
- the second submarginal cell triangular and petiolate, or at least narrowed anteriorly (arrow)
- broad genae, so the head appears rectangular when viewed dorsally
- integument strongly sculpted, and usually pitted

Sphodrotes have:
- both recurrent veins (arrows) received by submarginal cell II (usually, with occasional exceptions)

Unlike many other wasps, Sphodrotes rarely display their wings in this way, so one has to be lucky to get field shots clearly showing forewing venation … making this a less useful feature for genus level ID.

Occasionally I catch a female outside her burrow, grooming in the sun. Such photo opportunities are, however, quite rare. It’s normally the males that are sitting about on the vegetation.