Just ask the Great Golden Sand Digger
Sphex ichneumoneus or similar species
[technical note, I hear from a reader that the photo may in fact be a different tho similar species of digger wasp acting Sphexish]
When does a digger wasp in Cypress Creek meet Big Bang Theory? Leonard Hofstadter took his fictional name from Nobel Laureate physicist Robert Hofstadter (1915-1990). Robert’s son Douglas Hofstadter likewise achieved fame and glory, in computer science, in A.I., and in thinking about thinking. Douglas coined the term “sphexish” to describe (apparently) irrational repetitive behavior. You know, broken record. Look at the Latin name of the wasp above, and then witness this Sphex (or close relative) being sphexish. Over the last couple days I’ve come to suspect that the behavior might (might) have to do with seeking pebbles filling in the nest. But then why all in the same groove?
Click below for hot diggidity digger (repeat) action!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U0XEaN4tJPBPNIHL-XczTNi0fw-QzE9C/view?usp=sharing
Added later—worth a look
John Bradford
George Rogers
George Rogers
Dee Staley
Treasure Coast Natives 
Linda Grashoff
March 28, 2025 at 3:25 pm
How do we know the behavior in your video is irrational? Or maybe the taxonomist really liked the sound of the word “sphexish” and was looking for an opportunity to use it even if it didn’t exactly fit. Whatever their name, they are beautiful.
George Rogers
March 28, 2025 at 4:11 pm
Yes, very good point. Who are we to know that behavior has no adaptive purpose. At worst, it may merely be a “rational” behavior with bad signals. You’re so right. Something to do with filling in the nest, effectively or misdirected?