ID from description?

[hoodswoods]

A huge (2+ inch) wasp/hornet was buzzing my Georgia hive entrance late yesterday afternoon.

Pretty slender, black head/thorax & long black abdomen with distinct red band close to thorax & abdomen juncture. I consider myself well-versed in most critter ID and knowledge, but never have come across this one before.

[Oldbee]

This is one of the better sites that I know of for insect identification. You can use search words at the top to narrow it down somewhat; lots of images. Since I don't live in the south. It comes up slow because of images. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=+wasps And:http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=hornets

[TwT]

ok when you sat slender the only thing that looks like that and is big and them colors is not a hornet, I can't think of the class they are in but they (big dirt dobber cousins) dig a hole in the ground and then drag a spider from some where into it to lay a egg on the spider, that the only thing I seen in Ga that looks close to what you are describing, I have been seeing increasing numbers of European Hornets this year but none by my hives, you can't miss them, at first you think they are a humming bird!

[pkwilbur]

I have seen such beast in GA. I think they call them Japanese hornets. Here in Michigan I call them Cicada killers. Like TwT said, although mine will hang out by hives, but also drag Cicada into a hole and lay eggs on them. My sand driveway usually will have many holes from the "beasts".

Side note: Dragonflies around here like to swoop around my hives also.

[Flyman]

PKwilber hit it right. Do a google search for "Cicada Killer" and it will return a photo of the bug you described. Around here, we have more Cicada than killers. I am listening to at least 15 cicadas right now. My grandfather always said that it was 90 days till the first frost after you heard the first cicada. Wish that were true in Texas:D.

[cyclobee]

This is probably a sphecid wasp you are describing, but not a cicada killer. I've never known these wasps to prey upon honey bees, but it may snag one or two at the hive entrance. This is a solitary wasp; it will not inhabit your hive, so do not worry about it :)

[hoodswoods]

you nailed it cyclobee here is the link to the creature:

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fs earch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dsphecid% 2Bwasp%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501-s&w=220&h=214&imgurl=www.fermatainc.com%2Ftripdujour%2Fimages%2F sphecid_wasp_entertunnel.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fermatainc.com%2Ftripdujour% 2Fcloser_will_of_wasp.html&size=13k&name=sphecid+wasp+ent...&p=sphecid+wasp&oid=c29bcae52ab99ce2&fr2=&no=4&tt=162&sigr=11tleoqve&sigi=121lrap4q&sigb=12rdpucnt

After watching the following NG video, I had concerns...


http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/animals/bugs-animals/bees-and-wasps/bees_vs_hornet.html

[cyclobee]

Wow! That is an amazing video--hooray honey bees :applause: