My wife and I saw some large wasps I never seen before this weekend. some were over 1-1/2" long. Huge lower abdomen (or whatever it is). Is anyone familiar with this insect? (I assume a wasp, but not positive. Closest I found on internet might be the "cicada killer" wasp, but not sure. Doesn't look exactly the same to me.)
Pray it's not one of these:
Seriously, though, I'd of said Mud dauber, but it's not black enough.
Cheers,
Radar
what's this - again???
Another surveyor with a tape in inches.
I swear. What is the world coming to.
All the ones we saw were in that tree. I didn't find a nest.
So far the only thing I have been able to find that matches that size and habitat is the European Hornet. Still looking though.
Cy
Well, your wasp kind of looks like a cicada killer, but I have never seen one light in a place of more than just a few seconds. The cicada killers around here are about the color of the yellow of the torso of your wasp. They also known as "news bees" because they hover in a spot for a few seconds and make a loud and distinctive buzzing noise and then leave quickly. It is said that they tell you the news and then split. We found this large wasp a few weeks ago in Pittsburg, Texas. It had killed a large spider and was dragging it all over the wall looking for a place to drag it into. After about 5 minutes, it finally found a place. This wasp is a darker orange, but looks more like the one you are showing. And I have no idea what kind of wasp it is...
It looks kinda like a 
&imgrefurl= http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2008/08/14/pigeon-horntail-13/&h=288&w=216&sz=9&tbnid=O7GECTfII_CqgM:&tbnh=230&tbnw=172&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpigeon%2Bhorntail&zoom=1&hl=en&usg=__9TqTeTU-j0pegqMlssVqm2oeaC0=&sa=X&ei=v-18TI-NLYWdlgen7rWvCg&ved=0CBoQ9QEwA A">Pigeon Horntail to me.
But wasps seem to change a little, from region to region.
:coffee:
Yes, they are called "good news bees" around here also.
I'd say Dan is right
See the first picture here:
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/category/hornets-and-wasps/horntails-wood-wasps-and-sawflies/
I'd say Dan is right
I think you guys got it with the "Pigeon Horntail". From that same site, I found this picture that looks a little closer to the same strping pattern of the one I saw.
[url= http://static-wtb.cheshirecat.net/images/pigeon_horntail_brandon.jp g" target="_blank">
I hope I linked that right. Thanks guys.
edit: trying again
what's this - again???
I grew up surveying under a fellow who always reminded me that "inches are for carpenters and whores."
I'd say Dan is right
Yep
http://critterzone.com/animal-pictures-nature/insect-wasp-horntail-pigeon-tremex-columba.htm
