These dudes are fucking crazy. They essentially lobotomize a cockroach, then lead it back to their den and lay eggs on it. The babies eat the now docile roach alive from the inside. Nature is pretty metal.
Given the location, these guys aren’t that particular cockroach-eating species, but they’re probably a similar parasitoid of some flavor (chrysididae).
E: After digging through some regional entomology references, I’m thinking these are blue mud daubers due to the elongated body and abdomen shape.
You might be right. The last one was thought to be a jewel wasp on the insect ID community, but I’m outside their region. The BMD seem more likely and generally show up on the ground after it rains.
Cool spot regardless! I’m a native Texan and had my interest piqued by your post yesterday.
