Bee wolf wasps (Philanthus triangulum )

[trina8011795]

Does anyone know what these wasps are...It seems that this time of year my mother gets them in her backyard... They always hang around by the pool and deck. How can we get rid of them? Do they sting??? I'm deathly scared of bees, wasps, hornets...all of above. They are ugly, huge and seem to really get close and there is always two or more. We have seen them kill a big beetle. HELP PLEASE!!!!

Oh, Live in Long Island , NY so if not bee wolf I don't know what else they are... Please look up the name to see pictures

[Jim]

Hmmm...well the Beewolf wasps you're talking about solitary wasps that occur in Europe and Africa so I think we can safely rule that species out

How big would you say they are? One "big" wasp that is fairly common is the cicada killer, Sphecius speciosus:


© 1998-2006, Chuck Holliday

They're relatively harmless (unless you're a cicada) but their size can be intimidating, especially to someone with a fear of stinging insects.

Here are some useful links that may help you positively ID your wasps - if you can get someone to snap a photo of the critter that would certainly help.

http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~hollidac/cica ... rhome.html

http://websites.quincy.edu/~coelhjo/ck/thriller.htm

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2078A.html

http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmnh/bug ... 20wasp.htm

[trina8011795]

THank you sooo much.... Very helpfull... I do believe that is what we have. The websites were helpfull. I just don't know how to get rid of them..... I am very scared.. Can't lay out on the deck or go in the pool or enjoy the backyard cuz these guys really friends..LOL They land on the chair.. Not like normal bees that just fly by and dissappear. These guys hang around and do not go away.

Do u have any suggestions as to how to get rid of them?????? We can see where there home is.

I will try to get a pic!!

Thanks again!

[Jim]

I think a couple of those sites I mentioned have information about control...here's one page of suggestions:

http://websites.quincy.edu/~coelhjo/ck/control.htm

I forgot to share my favorite photo of this wasp - I snapped it at one of our Fall Open House events:

[Mona Miller]

http://www.discoverlife.org/
Main website for Discover Life

http://www.discoverlife.org/nh/id/
There are nature ID guides to help you identify many species of both flora and fauna.