Giant Wasps would let me finish my yard work!

[HarveyH48]

I was just finishing up in the backyard, and was going to open the gate to the alley, when this huge wasp started flying around me, circling. I backed away, and into the house to get a camera. Saw one of these last year, hauling off a cicada. Got back out there, and it was still patrolling the walkway to the back-gate. What for a while, but it wouldn't stop, just kept going back and forth along the walkway, about 10 feet worth.

A second one came, not real sure if they were fighting, mating, or what, but the second one would land on a bush for a while, then go mess with the first one, come back and land about the same spot. Got plenty of pictures, and some video of this one. Setup a second camera on the first one patrolling, and got some video of that as well. Turns out, there are three of these, about 1.5 inches in length, one has got to be pretty close to two inches, definitely bigger than the other two.

They are pretty cool looking, but don't need them setting up a nest. My Lab is on anything that flies, even if they bite. Don't think I want to get poked by one of these either. Raining this evening, so don't think I'll be hitting the allies with the metal detector tonight, but I need my gate back.

http://metaldetectingforum.com/album.php?albumid=2011
Link to 9 pictures in my gallery. Not sure how that works yet, just started learning about it.

[Nitelord]

Cool. I used to see them around here. Mostly when the cicada's hatch. Actually had one stuck in the grill on the Pacifica, a couple of months back. I guess my wife picked it up while she and the kids were at the campground.

Nice pix.

[HarveyH48]

The giant wasps are definitely staying, back all day again today. The larger one, I'm calling 'Big Mama' spent more time in the yard today. Haven't been able to get pictures or video of 'her' (not sure about gender), doesn't stay still for long, and has a real nasty attitude. She'll chase me a good ways, if I get too close. The other two just take off, but land right back where they were before. Big Mama attacks everything that gets close, even leaves falling out of the oak trees. She went after a squirrel, and a couple of lizards, which seem interested in a snack. Got a hunch they would probably die if stung. Would be a cool video, so going to keep trying, might get lucky.

Really need to find the nest, as interesting as my new pets are, I'm going to have to get rid of these things. I want my gate back, and I'm pretty sure the dog has introduced himself (hasn't gone out in the backyard since Saturday, and he usually follows me out, when I working in the yard.

[SJA]

That's what they are, Cicada killer Wasps.

:-)

[stewart73]

Originally Posted by SJA

That's what they are, Cicada killer Wasps.

:-)

Heheh...beat me to it. Nasty little devils!

[hssea]

Yellow jackets--I get them all the time at my house. They love to build nests under my eves, once we found a nest the size of a football (and they can get a lot bigger than that). Be careful two of my kids have been stung by them--they can be aggressive.

[HarveyH48]

These are easily twice the size of an Yellow Jacket I've seen, or been stung by. They were back again today. Caught some video of Big Mama digging a hole. Seems like she just started it this morning, so don't think it's home. Next to the back gate, which the refuse to let me use. Been meaning to walk my dog down the alley, but got prickly pear cactus all across the back of my property, outside the fence. Don't think I can keep an eye on the dog, watch out for the wasps, and look for a nest all at the same time.

Working on getting some video clips together, and will put them up on YouTube, and a link here. Waiting for one to convert to something I can edit (hopefully), but it shows Big Mama fully, get an idea, just how big this one is.

Funny thing though, the Cicadas don't usually make noise until evening around here, but they were sounding off mid-morning, while Big Mama was digging... The other two, only seem to be keeping watch. Haven't seen them do anything else, and seldom leave their posts for very long, other than to chase me off, when I get too close. Got some video of them watching me, going to include some clips of that as well.

[TNYANKEE74]

european hornet?
http://www.simplelifeprattle.com/env...t_asian-giant/

[SJA]

THEY ARE Cicada killer Wasps. (Sphecius Speciosus)

:-)

[Daniel1381]

I get em here in Texas called ground wasp there huge!! And mean!

[jarrow]

That is a baby compaired to some Iv'e seen here in texas. I had rather be bitten by a pit bull

[OZARKS]

Originally Posted by SJA

THEY ARE Cicada killer Wasps. (Sphecius Speciosus)

:-)

Yep http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...og&sa=N&tab=wi

[Daniel1381]

Sucks to be that cicada

[HarveyH48]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiPMWIkXqI4

This is a clip of Big Mama digging a hole. It's short, but will add a few more later today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucjQVMUTkFU

This one is of one of the guards, watching me.

[OZ_IL]

Good old Cicada Killers! The males are usually the aggressive ones as they defend their territory. The good news is the males have no stingers so it is all show Females on the other hand.....

I once MD'ed a baseball field that had hundreds of them (17 year cicada cycle) and never was bothered by them. A few buzzed me, checking me out but then just went back to business.

I have them drinking sap from a lilac bush in my backyard. Had three of them on there last week.



Nothing worth mentioning from MD'ing and until we get cooler temps and rain there won't be

[HarveyH48]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Piz-Gl6r-Sg

Another digging location video.

Found a dead one, apparent suicide. Guess he didn't listen, and put his eye out with that thing...

Wondering if this is the end of the invasion. Had the to guards early today, then just the one that stays mostly on the ground. Big Mama stop by a couple of times. Nothing since finding the corpse, even went out the back gate into the alley. Didn't see any nest, or unusual holes, but we had a heavy rain yesterday.

Was kind of a cool adventure, but glad it's over, hopefully. Now, I need to figure out how to get the dog to go past the back porch. He definitely had a bad experience out there, very reluctant. Had to lie to him, just to get him out on the porch, 'git the kitty'.

[OZARKS]

That last pic is EPIC!

[HarveyH48]

Just noticed something depressing, on the lower abdomen, of the two guards, there are two smaller spots of yellow. The dead one is lacking those marks, must have been a new visitor...

[LookingHawk]

they r called cicada killers...they do not back down from anything...i once learned the hard way never forget the feeling!!! females can grow to 2 inches long as the one that got me....most time they wont bother humans and the males have no stinger...as well the females will fight to the death if they cross paths amazing thing to see

[HarveyH48]

Originally Posted by LookingHawk

they r called cicada killers...they do not back down from anything...i once learned the hard way never forget the feeling!!! females can grow to 2 inches long as the one that got me....most time they wont bother humans and the males have no stinger...as well the females will fight to the death if they cross paths amazing thing to see

I wasn't going to find out the hard way. I don't know a lot about wasps, or insects in general, but never heard of one not having a stinger. Wasps and hornets are the worst, they don't lose the stinger, just keep poking you with it.

Had hope to catch some video of one attacking a lizard. Watched them creeping up on the wasps, but the wasps always take flight, lizards run off (guess they know about the stinger too). Still have some video to run through, but doubt anything happened.

Still think I'm going to be a little cautious in that corner of the yard for a few days, just to make sure they are gone. Looked back through all the pictures, and close-up video. The dead one is doesn't have the smaller yellow marks. He might have gotten wounded, and finished it. Those wasps were attacking falling leaves. Fortunately, they only chased me a little.