Observaciones de darkneskies

This was located in a 90° corner of an aluminum window frame adjacent to concrete foundation. Used a flashlight for pic#1.

The name "potter wasp" derives from the shape of the mud nests built by species of Eumenes and similar genera. It is believed that Native Americans based their pottery designs upon the form of local potter wasp nests.

When a cell is completed, the adult wasp typically collects beetle larvae, spiders or caterpillars and, paralyzing them, places them in the cell to serve as food for a single wasp larva.

Nest was about 13mm diameter with about a 2mm diameter opening.

One of them needs a bath!
Red veins on corium not prominent and western boxelder not this far east.

@michaelpirrello Thanks for the ID
This species, although harmless, is a major annual annoyance. They just arrived today like an invasion which will only get worse over the next several weeks. The thousand(s) all over doors and walls will multiply ten fold or more before cold temps put them to sleep. We will need to leave a broom near doorways to sweep them off before making a quick entry.

This may be the last time to observe potter wasps this season. Temps since have dropped into upper 20's in the morning with heavy wind. We shall see as you never know with continental climate. This looks similar to other P. vagus seen on this plant. Photos in chronological order.

In this observation, and please correct my terminology if wrong, I see for the first time, structures on the posterior surface of the propodeum. They look like over-the-ears headphones. Do not know the purpose. Cushions for when hinging closed?

Also, I see front to rear :
flagellomers not hooked apically : female?
cephalic foveae depression?
gena : ferruginous
narrow yellow pronatal band
pronotum : ferruginous
scutum : black
tegula : reddish?
scutellum : ferruginous
metanotum: black anterior, ferruginous posterior
large propodeum spots : yellow
teeth below propodeal angle?
mid/hind tibia reddish
tergum 1 : punctate

What an unusual wasp.
https://bugeric.blogspot.com/2010/10/wasp-wednesday-leucospis.html

My first thought on seeing it was that it was a Parancistrocerus that had been speared or impaled with something ... except the placement right down the centerline was odd.
Glad iNat recognized it!

These ants have several colonies around the property. Some 'clearings' are about a foot diameter while others exceed two feet. In all cases, they have excavated amazingly large pebles for their size & in large volumne. In the last pic, I watched that ant move it's payload from near the tunnel entrance quite a long way before dropping it. Also, there is always a complete absence of live vegetation in their clearings. Each clearing has multiple entrances.