Eee gads!

babice · July 27, 2012

Aaaggh!

I am not kidding you. I just saw what looks like a 3 inch bee. I was walking out front looking at the garden and saw this huge thing fly by. Thought maybe it was a couple of dragon flys mating and saw it land over on the side of the raised bed. Then got a look at it - no lie. That thing was huge and had yellow stripes like a bee. I practicaly ran in the house!

I looked it up - had to have either been a "wood wasp" or a "cicada killer wasp". GAH! Oh my goodness. Have been seeing some pretty large ones out on the deck on but this one is like bee-zilla!

p.s. sorry if this is in the wrong forum - not sure where I shoulda posted it

Fusion_power · July 28, 2012

more likely a european hornet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_hornet

lakelady · July 28, 2012

I had a LOT of them in the early summer, HUGE. Like, 1-1/2 inches long. You could hear them coming from quite some distance and they kinda freaked me out lol...never did find out what they were, but they don't look like the photos of either of those. Mine had brownish wings I think. I actually would run away from them so I didn't exactly get a bird's eye view if you know what I mean ha!

JamesL · July 28, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by babice

Aaaggh!

I am not kidding you. I just saw what looks like a 3 inch bee. I was walking out front looking at the garden and saw this huge thing fly by. Thought maybe it was a couple of dragon flys mating and saw it land over on the side of the raised bed. Then got a look at it - no lie. That thing was huge and had yellow stripes like a bee. I practicaly ran in the house!

I looked it up - had to have either been a "wood wasp" or a "cicada killer wasp". GAH! Oh my goodness. Have been seeing some pretty large ones out on the deck on but this one is like bee-zilla!

p.s. sorry if this is in the wrong forum - not sure where I shoulda posted it

Babice, you will need to follow it home to be sure. Cicada wasp will have dug a hole in the ground and it looks like the euro hornet that Dar mentions builds a more traditional nest. Cicada wasps are harmless and of no concern, unless their nests are unsightly in the yard.
Looks like the euro hornet has the potential to sting but I have never encountered one.

livinonfaith · July 28, 2012

I think I know what you mean, Antoinette.

The one I've seen is a hornet, at least I'm pretty sure it is. Whatever it is, make sure their nest isn't too close by. If it is in a place that you might disturb, like in a place near where you mow, I'd get rid of it. The ones down here pack a pretty vicious sting.

babice · July 28, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fusion_power

more likely a european hornet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_hornet

Blah! That coulda been it but it doesn't look as much like what I saw. I ran pretty quickly!

I hope I don't see it again but, if I do, I will attempt to foller it. I'm trying to remember to keep my cell phone with me so I can take pics when stuff like that happens.

babice · July 28, 2012

p.s. I dunno - what I saw seriously had to be about 2 1/2 to 3 inches. Would maybe the queen european hornet get that big and would I see a queen out and about?

check this out - this is closer to what I saw:

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/?s=woodw...rchsubmit.y=11

jennifer28 · July 28, 2012

Cicada killers are some of the most disgusting hornets I have seen.

You will know you have seen one when you see it flying by carrying a paralyzed cicada.

The creepy things like to line their nests with cicadas and then they munch on them.

In Connecticut they are quite the problem this year. It would be a good balance to keep the cicadas in check but lately there are more hornets than cicadas.

The problems happen when you walk by their nests. If your kids are playing in the yard near one of the entrances to the nests, they will zip right over and sting you. More than once, I may add.

They are NOT like bees, where bees may buzz around you and "investigate" you, especially male carpenter bees, without stinging you. These things are vicious. I recommend exterminating them, unless of course you notice you have a cicada problem.

jennifer28 · July 28, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesL

Babice, you will need to follow it home to be sure. Cicada wasp will have dug a hole in the ground and it looks like the euro hornet that Dar mentions builds a more traditional nest. Cicada wasps are harmless and of no concern, unless their nests are unsightly in the yard.
Looks like the euro hornet has the potential to sting but I have never encountered one.

James I dont agree about the cicada wasp. They are only good for cicada control. But they are vicious. And they will take over a yard and RUIN it with their stupid dug out nests. They are especially bad if you have children who like to play in the yard. The loud voices and movement of kids will make them sting, and they do it fast and viciously. They are NOT harmless.

babice · July 28, 2012

This picture of a wood wasp looks a lot like it. With what Jennifer just posted about cicada wasps I hope it was more of a wood wasp! What I saw didn't have a cicada. It flew over head and then checked out the rocks around my flower bed. And then babice went...

BigBrownDogHouse · July 28, 2012

I'm glad this thread popped up. I also saw something the other day that freaked me out. It was HUGE.

According to what everyone is saying, I agree it was a Cicada Wasp. I just couldn't believe how big it was. It had to be in the 2-3 inch range.

I actually thought it was a baby hummingbird at first.
I remember it being more black and white stripped than having anything yellow on it.

It must have been passing through, I haven't seen another one around and hope I don't see one again.

BigBrownDogHouse · July 28, 2012

With a little more research, I definitely saw a Cicada Wasp. The photos on wiki match up perfectly and say they can reach 2 inches.

I saw the 2 inch variety.

meadowyck · July 29, 2012

There are a lot of Cicada's showing up lately, especially distrubing when they hang on the pool cage and you can't fling them off, now to have to worry about those moster stinging wasps...... Guess I'll need to start carrying my Epi pen when I walk into the yard.....

barkeater · July 29, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBrownDogHouse

I'm glad this thread popped up. I also saw something the other day that freaked me out. It was HUGE.

I actually thought it was a baby hummingbird at first.
.

Are you sure it wasn't a hummingbird moth?

shelleybean · July 29, 2012

We've seen several of these this summer too. I have never noticed them previously. And I am seeing cicadas, as well. That's the kind of stuff that gives me bad dreams. Ick!

July 27, 2012	#1
babice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Alabama Posts: 643	Eee gads! Aaaggh! I am not kidding you. I just saw what looks like a 3 inch bee. I was walking out front looking at the garden and saw this huge thing fly by. Thought maybe it was a couple of dragon flys mating and saw it land over on the side of the raised bed. Then got a look at it - no lie. That thing was huge and had yellow stripes like a bee. I practicaly ran in the house! I looked it up - had to have either been a "wood wasp" or a "cicada killer wasp". GAH! Oh my goodness. Have been seeing some pretty large ones out on the deck on but this one is like bee-zilla! p.s. sorry if this is in the wrong forum - not sure where I shoulda posted it

July 28, 2012	#3
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	I had a LOT of them in the early summer, HUGE. Like, 1-1/2 inches long. You could hear them coming from quite some distance and they kinda freaked me out lol...never did find out what they were, but they don't look like the photos of either of those. Mine had brownish wings I think. I actually would run away from them so I didn't exactly get a bird's eye view if you know what I mean ha! __________________ Antoniette

July 28, 2012	#8
jennifer28 Two-faced Drama Queen Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital Posts: 955	cicada killers Cicada killers are some of the most disgusting hornets I have seen. You will know you have seen one when you see it flying by carrying a paralyzed cicada. The creepy things like to line their nests with cicadas and then they munch on them. In Connecticut they are quite the problem this year. It would be a good balance to keep the cicadas in check but lately there are more hornets than cicadas. The problems happen when you walk by their nests. If your kids are playing in the yard near one of the entrances to the nests, they will zip right over and sting you. More than once, I may add. They are NOT like bees, where bees may buzz around you and "investigate" you, especially male carpenter bees, without stinging you. These things are vicious. I recommend exterminating them, unless of course you notice you have a cicada problem.

July 28, 2012	#11
BigBrownDogHouse Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Northern Illinois ZONE 5a...wait now 5b Posts: 906	I'm glad this thread popped up. I also saw something the other day that freaked me out. It was HUGE. According to what everyone is saying, I agree it was a Cicada Wasp. I just couldn't believe how big it was. It had to be in the 2-3 inch range. I actually thought it was a baby hummingbird at first. I remember it being more black and white stripped than having anything yellow on it. It must have been passing through, I haven't seen another one around and hope I don't see one again. __________________ Brian

July 28, 2012	#12
BigBrownDogHouse Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Northern Illinois ZONE 5a...wait now 5b Posts: 906	With a little more research, I definitely saw a Cicada Wasp. The photos on wiki match up perfectly and say they can reach 2 inches. I saw the 2 inch variety. __________________ Brian

July 28, 2012	#2
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	more likely a european hornet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_hornet

July 28, 2012	#5
livinonfaith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina Posts: 1,332	I think I know what you mean, Antoinette. The one I've seen is a hornet, at least I'm pretty sure it is. Whatever it is, make sure their nest isn't too close by. If it is in a place that you might disturb, like in a place near where you mow, I'd get rid of it. The ones down here pack a pretty vicious sting.

July 29, 2012	#13
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	There are a lot of Cicada's showing up lately, especially distrubing when they hang on the pool cage and you can't fling them off, now to have to worry about those moster stinging wasps...... Guess I'll need to start carrying my Epi pen when I walk into the yard..... __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

July 29, 2012	#15
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	We've seen several of these this summer too. I have never noticed them previously. And I am seeing cicadas, as well. That's the kind of stuff that gives me bad dreams. Ick! __________________ Michele