I was so excited about this find today that I think I actually said “YES!” out loud and climbed in some bushes to take a photo. My love for bugs overrides the fear of looking like a weirdo to other CSUN students. So, anyway, I LOVE wasps, especially solitary ones like this one. I had some trouble identifying it because I get most of my identification practice from photos I take then having to research it. However, wasps are so hard to get a close look at, let alone a decent photo! Except for this awesome one right here! At first I though Blue Mud Dauber for sure but on closer inspection I think this is actually a Great Black Wasp, Sphex pensylvanicus or maybe a Steel Blue Cricket Hunter, Chlorion aerarium…Or even a Larropsis sp…. or possibly Tachysphex sp. !!! haha I guess I don’t know! According to bugguide, Cricket Hunters have oversize heads/eyes, and a hairless jet black body with blue shimmer. I’m not sure but I hope to get lots more wasp practice in the future! My confusion makes this necessity obvious!
I had no idea wasps could be so beautiful.
