What the heck is it(wasp?)

[Maxiecat]

While I was out playing with my new lens, found a swarm of these around a rock pile at a local flower garden. They're about 1 1/2 to 2 inch's long and appearer to burrow under the rocks.




Maxiecat

E-500
Exposure: 1/250 sec.
F/8
Focal length: 50.00mm
Exposure Program: Macro

[Major_Small]

I'm no entomologist, but I'd call it a wasp. Anything in that suborder is either a bee, wasp, or ant. AFAIK, most wasp species burrow underground to nest. The ones around here look like holes almost big enough to push a pencil into, with no mound or anything built up to it.

Not that I recommend you go around pushing pencils into what could be wasp hives...

[Lakitu]

Originally Posted by Major_Small

pushing pencils into what could be wasp hives...

Now that is a shot I'd like to see

Looks like a big wasp to me.

[Jay_Pea]

It's not a hornet is it? Like a wasp but bigger.

[Matthias099]

1 1/2 -2 inches in length? That has to be a Hornet! I would not like to be stung by one of these!

[speedymatt]

looks like a yellow jacket. most wasp species want to build their nest high and look like paper tubes. yellow jackets brough and aren't fun if say run over the opening to the hive with a lawn mower. a dozen plus stings later and you'll understand why that shot gives me the willies. your lucky they didn't come after you as yellow jackets tend to be aggressive.

[billy320]

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

[randywdc]

This would be a "Killer Wasp". Males don't sting but the females will if provoked. They burrow in the ground and emerge around this time of year. Their "Killer" title comes from them attacking and killing Cicadas.

HTH,

Randy

[drumvik]

The pattern is identical in a photo comparison... I know because I have one flying around my backyard about 2 inches long! Scary sight!

Eastern cicada killer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Victoria
http://www.nothingbutpossibilities.com