Image of Tachysphex nigerrimus (F. Smith 1856)

Description:

After half an hour in the blazing sun observing these creatures. The one with green eyes is the Male (Saw one pounce on a Female in mid air in the manner of house flies, both fell to the ground in a tangle of wings and legs for a second then they flew off in different directions) Also dug up what appeared to be a well established nest hole (A lot of tailings at the entrance) and found Pic 3 a headless cockroach. This is the most strikingly marked Male I could find most are much darker on the abdomen. See http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/980087