Potter Wasp, home

I noticed this striking, small wasp exploring leaves close to home, and, as I raced back to the house to get my camera—thank the Lord the macro lens was already attached—I prayed that the insect would still be there when I returned. Most of the time, the object of interest has long departed, and I've learned to have low expectations and the ability to smile at my loss. But, often enough, I get lucky, and this was one of those occasions. The wasp allowed me to photograph it at close range before departing, and then the fun began: what was it? The identities of the members of the Family Vespidae are not one of my taxonomic strong suits, but a long and fascinating slog through BugGuide, as well as an in-depth look through the digital pages of yet another gift from Canada—the Identification Atlas of the Vespidae—gave me confidence that I'd discovered a kind of Potter Wasp, a vespid that makes little nests out of mud, some of which look like classic pieces of pottery and may, so goes the story, have inspired the designs of Native American potters. My enjoyable research suggested that the mystery creature belongs in the wasp genus Eumenes, but getting more specific will require, of course, additional study... and an actual deceased wasp in hand.