Friday, July 22, 2011

What Is It?

This morning I went outside to take some recycles out to the recycle bin and I saw a big "bee" flying around. I've never seen a bug like it. Then I noticed that it was flying around this pile of dirt in my flower garden. I watched it for a while. It never went in the hole (from the pile of dirt). I'm assuming that is it's home, but don't know for sure. Do you have any idea what it could be? (sorry the picture isn't the greatest. It wouldn't sit still and smile.)

4 comments:

Tiffany said...

Yep. I'm pretty certain that's an African hornet. Those things are crazy!! We had them last year and saw little dirt piles all over our yard. Jason thought it was a rodent doing it at first. They're harmless when left alone, but if provoked, can sting multiple times because hornets don't lose their stingers. We sprayed for ours because they like to nest everywhere!

Kirsten said...

Wow, that is quite the interesting bee-type thingy! I'll believe Tiffany that it's an African hornet. :)

Anonymous said...

Emily,

I think it might be a secada (spell?) killer. I saw something about it at the National Zoo. Hope this helps!

Jen Fissel

Uniquely Me said...

We have them in the yard where my parents are living in Mechanicsburg. The yard guy and pest exterminator said they are called Cicada Killers. Very hard to get rid of and really freaky. They build their nest in the ground and can ruin a yard. I think there is poision you can put on them though. But it makes them mad and then they fly around in circles.