Bain Posted July 16, 2008 Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 For the first time, these things are flying around my backyard, and bellying up to my black-eyed Susans to wet their whistles. My German Shepherd, of course, chases after them and trys to devour them. I assume if they sting his tongue or mouth, his head will swell up, I'll zoom him to the veterinarian, and hope he survives. This is obviously some kind of bee, but it's nearly an inch and a half long and I'm wondering how dangerous its venom is. Rigorous clinical trials have demonstrated that an idiot home inspector dude with a can of bug spray can race around his backyard and assassinate these suckers pretty easily. But there are so many of them . . . Image Insert: 71.46 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob White Posted July 16, 2008 Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 It may just be a moth or hoverfly --- A sheep in wolf's clothing, so to speak. Many moths dress up as wasps to fool predators into leaving them alone. They didn't consider the HI with bug spray, I guess..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghentjr Posted July 16, 2008 Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 Looks like a wasp. No offense intended to any republicans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bain Posted July 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 I Googled hoverfly, and think you may be right, Bob. The tail markings look wicked similar. Collateral damage is a bitch . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark P Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Ground Hornet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Moore Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 The attennae are too long for a hoverfly. I think what you have there is a resin bee. See this photo and the website. http://dereila.ca/dereilaimages/Bee10.jpg http://dereila.ca/dereilaimages/bugs.html There's more on them at... http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes ... te110.html They are pollinators, don't seem to be aggressive stingers, and as bees are in a shortage across the country, you should be happy to have them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Lewis Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 My vote is for a Cicada killing wasp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Moore Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Originally posted by Neal Lewis My vote is for a Cicada killing wasp. I think we have a winner! That looks more like it than my resin bees. Especailly the base of the anttena. http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/images/ ... _wasp.jpeg Those you can kill! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bain Posted July 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Youse guys are the best!! How have you even heard of a cicada killing wasp, Neal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Lewis Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Well, we have the annual onslaught of the noisy cicadas here for a month or so every year. A while back I noticed them making nests in the kid's sandbox. I think that one is the male. The female is orange and can be about an inch and a half long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 They're very common here. I'll bet there's several little holes in your lawn, John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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