Need help with an insect identification?

Question

Last night I was in my backyard and there was this very large flying insect flying around. It was about the size of a dragonfly, except it looked more like a slim spider combined with a dragonfly, and it's wings made a very loud buzzing noise when it flew. it was dark colored and had yellow stripes on it i believe, didn't want to get too close to it as it looked harmful, unlike dragonflies. I live in Georgia (USA) if that helps any, but i've never seen one before in my 18 years of living here. sorry for the vague description, thank you

Answer 1

I agree with someone else here. It sounds like a European Giant Hornet. They are not native to the U.S. and mostly feed by raiding honeybee hives. They can sting but their sting is not as potent as the smaller bald hornet which lives in colonies much larger and can sting much more in mass.

I have seen the giant but as your post implies they are fairly uncommon. I live in Tennessee by the way and have only seen these a few times. I am 55.

If this isn't it then you'll have to come up with a better discription.

Answer 2

May have been a Dobson fly. The adult form of an aquatic insect commonly known as hellgramites. Corydalis cornutus .
An important food for bass and other freshwater fish.

Answer 3

From the define it appears like a beetle. yet beetles do not chew or sting human beings, wood on the different hand ... despite the fact that if the wings are above the physique, then a cukoo bee or wasp would desire to be the respond. on the grounds that bugs have their skeleton on the exterior, all bugs are problematical exterior. If there's a next time, seize it in a jar, fairly than flushing it.

Answer 4

Very hard to say without a picture, but if you go to: http://www.whatsthatbug.com/ and use some of the above suggestions you may find out which one it was.

Answer 5

It sounds like a type of hornet.

Answer 6

bluebell?