General, Non-Daffodil

identify this?

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Hi, Can anyone identify the insect in the photos? I assume it’s a type of hornet. I’ve tried zapping it with Raid Wasp and Hornet killer, but it’s too fast for me. Thanks, Mary Lou

3 comments for “identify this?”

  1. Mary Lou, that looks like the Cicada Killer Wasp ( Sphecius sp.). We have them here in western Massachusetts, where they can be seen hovering an inch above the ground, landing occasionally, and tilting their heads. I swear they are listening for the sound of emerging cicadas. I saw one actually killing a cicada and dragging it away – quite a sight, and made me happy to be on top of the food chain. They are pretty docile around humans, though, so don’t feel you need to dispatch it. Thanks for the photo, Tracey

  2. Thanks to all who replied and identified the Cicada Killer Wasp. I’ll just stay out of their way and let them do their thing. :-) Mary Lou

  3. Looks to me like a color variant of your standard white-faced hornet. It’s a vigorous killer of spiders (the bigger the better, as long is it can carry them) and of many destructive insects. If you can tolerate it, that’s probably best. If it and its friends have built a large nest under your eaves by the front door, or under the deck, you might want to reconsider. Protective clothing, sunset-or-later, and attack the nest, not the hornets.

    We get pileated woodpeckers in the spring, seeking mates (why don’t they use the Classifieds?); but they don’t seem to hang around for the summer. Maybe not enough suet.

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