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!