I think this one is a paper wasp. And I’m going to call it an honorary or passive pollinator. It sure moves from flower to flower a lot (and tracks pollen along with it).
I especially like both the shadow and the wasp’s feet distorting the surface of the water.
I think the “wasp” may be a yellow jacket drone or even a young queen. In my 72 years I’ve never seen a paper wasp with jet black as the base of coloration. I’ve been battling yellow jackets since I moved to Louisiana 49 years ago.
Gene. Thanks for the comment. I think you’re probably right. I’ll look further and see if I can find more pics of that same wasp. Really want to get things right!
It is a paper wasp, Polistes dominula; the orange-tipped antennae still the best clue, even if the black is too black