What the heck is it?

[truckemup97]

So there are about 20 of these milling about at the corner of my neighbor's house, which is perilously close to my garage and driveway. (One of the wonders of a modern subdivision ). They are 2 - 2 1/2" long. I can't find the nest, but it may be in the ground under some plants. Hornets? Some new wasp I've never seen? What the heck is it, and more importantly, how do I get rid of them without digging up the neighbor's flower bed. I'm probably going to have to do it as they are renters with an absentee landlord and are rarely home.

 

[Mule Packer]

It's a European Wasp. Don't mess with 'em. They get aggravated real easy!...and they can sting multiple times.

 

[truckemup97]

So if I call ICE, will they deport them?

 

[Mule Packer]

I guess you can give it a try, but you can bet your bobsled that these guys won't show ICE their papers!

 

[carpriver]

It's a multi wing flying insect capable of both vertical and horizontal takeoff. It is armed with a rear facing pointy barbed lance that injects a powerful pain inducing fluid that makes the victim say word not allowed on the forum and has been known to make some victims very ill.

I call it a wasp, not to be confused With a White Anglo Saxtion Protestant.

 

[truckemup97]

Vespula germanica - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
OK, so these look right, but wikipedia says they are only 1/2" long. These are considerably bigger. I didn't catch one and measure it, but they are at least three times that size, if not larger.

And I'm still wondering how to get rid of them. I'm pretty sure I saw them last fall and didn't pay any attention. Likely I was only home for a day or two as the new queen was finding a home. If the queen can over-winter and will produce another queen this fall (hence a second colony next spring), I would like for these to be gone. I have wasp spray and sevin dust. I also have a 20 gauge, but that may upset the neighbors.

 

[Fishslayer]

Take off & nuke 'em from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

 

[venomballistics]

Cicada Killer Wasp.
They are fairly harmless for as long as you are not on the verge of heart failure to begin with.
I found them to be handy targets for pellet guns, and airsoft.

 

[venomballistics]

Cicada Killer Wasps | University of Kentucky Entomology

 

[medxam]

You are right on target with Cicada Killer Wasps! Read the Wikipedia site and act accordingly!

medxam

 

[Airpark]

Troy on Swamp People sez, "Chootem,,,Chootem,,,@#$% it Chootem, dey gon get away if you don Chootem."

 

[LVSteve]

Got a similar beastie out here called a Scarab Hunter. You can get right up to them with the camera when they are on a flower. They seem to largely ignore humans.