Huge bee! Help ID

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  • Salty
    Senior Member
    • Feb 2006
    • 690
    • Akron, Ohio
    #1

    Huge bee! Help ID

    This evening the LOML saw this very large insect on the side of the house. She thought it was a Cicada. Upon closer inspection it looked to be a very large bee, complete with a very large stinger.
    The first picture shows it just before I crushed its head. While I was at the computer uploading the pictures she came in the house and informed me that a squirrel came by it and proceeded to eat off its head. Can you believe that? I thought they only ate nuts!
    Anyway, the second picture is after the squirrel got done with it.
    Should I be concerned about a bee this large? As you can see it was about 1.5" long and very nasty looking!
    Anyone know what this is or if it is a nasty as it looks?
    I keep thinking of that opening scene in MIB!
    Last edited by Salty; 11-23-2008, 09:10 AM.
    Why doesn't the word 'planing' show up in my computer spell check?
    Tags: None
    • mater
      Veteran Member
      • Jan 2004
      • 4197
      • SC, USA.
      #2
      It looks like some kind of Hornet to me. Last summer I bet I killed 100 of them that looked like that one as they just kept flying around my side deck. Must have been something there they liked. This year I have only killed 2.
      Ken aka "mater"

      " People may doubt what you say but they will never doubt what you do "

      Ken's Den

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        • Salty
          Senior Member
          • Feb 2006
          • 690
          • Akron, Ohio
          #3
          Well, I should have done this search earlier. Guess I was too stunned by the size of this thing.
          It is called a 'Cicada Killer'. I kinda feel bad now since it seems it was a benifitial insect.
          Here is some interesting info on it.
          http://whatsthatbug.com/killerwasps.html
          Why doesn't the word 'planing' show up in my computer spell check?

            Comment

            • Lefty
              Senior Member
              • Sep 2003
              • 874
              • Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
              #4
              I used to see those things burrowing in a guy's yard when I'd take my morning walk. Freaked me out for sure! I did some research and found the males are very aggressive, but incapable of stinging and the females, while capable, are reluctant to sting. If you really really agitate one while holding it, it may sting you, but the effects are hardly noticeable... unless you're a cicada.

              Amazing how much nature can terrify you until you look a little closer.
              Eric

              -Supplier of quality sawdust to southeast South Dakota!

                Comment

                • SARGE..g-47
                  #5
                  You beat me to the punch with your google search, Salty. I see them quite often here in Georgia and had much rather see them than yellow jackets which get quite aggressive in fall when foraging. The killer part is kind of deceptive, so I always explain just what that means if I mention them.

                  European hornets get pretty large also compared to bald faced, but have different colorings than the cicada killer..

                  Regards...

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