I've seen this wasp twice on flowers this August. The ones I've seen have both had bright yellow faces, thus males? It looks like a Sphex, rather like Sphex ichneumoneus in coloration, but the abdomen is all black. Perhaps it is a different species of Sphex. I note the following species listed for North Carolina in that genus at North Carolina State University Entomology Collection: Sphex flavovestitus (5 specimens), Sphex habenus (38 specimens), Sphex nudus (22 specimens). I see Sphex nudus is in the guide, but I don't see photos of the male, if that's what this is. I can find no photos of the other two species.

This is likely Sphex habenus according to Eric Eaton--see comments. I'm going to move it to a guide for that species, and mention the uncertainty in the species guide page.

Likely the same species as this individual:



(See comments.)