They are not yellow jackets?

Question

Thanks for the answers but these things are about 5 times the size of yellow jackets. The head of a yellow jacket is yellow and black. These have a very large reddish head. http://www.coastaldrapes.com/bee.html

Any other ideas? I'm taking them to meet a bee keeper I hope this week sometime.

Thanks,

KJ

Thanks everyone. You are right they are Cicada Killer Wasp. I just researched them and they kill the Cicada or commonly known as the horse fly. This explains why they are around our barn. They are non-aggresive. Thanks again, KJ

Answer 1

It's a cicada killer wasp. I found 1 on my back porch a few weeks ago and thought it was some sort of mutant wasp thing!!! I looked it up and found out what it really is. The male cannot sting and the female will only sting if she is "handled roughly" so don't slap her around! The female kills cicadas (their only prey) and carries it to her nest in the ground, where she lays eggs in it. They are kind of cool now that I know what they are.

Answer 2

It looks like you either have a cicada killer wasp or a European hornet.

http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/eurhorn.html

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=european+hornet&sp=1&fr2=sp-top&ei=UTF-8&fr=FP-tab-img-t-t500&ei=UTF-8&SpellState=n-3406024844_q-of7fIIiaIvzO5rFh4gyp4AABAA@@

Taking a closer look at some of my other references I agree you have a cicada killer wasp. The curve of the body is a dead giveaway.

Answer 3

It might be a hornet. very painful sting. or it might be a secata killer bee. commonly sizes from 1 inch to an inch and a half. it is not likely going to sting you. it is either looking for food or a mate.