CLOSED: please help ID BIG insect!

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slywlf Brooksville, FL(Zone 9a) Aug 24, 2011

I am in the Catskills, and have been feeding both the hummingbirds and more recently a small swarm of honey bees. This year the yellow jackets and bumbles joined in at the buffet, and as if they know I am helping them they have been surprisingly peaceable - not one sting. Today, however, I found my calm shattered when I was refilling some feeders and noticed a new visitor. This thing was between 1 1/2 and 2 inches long, mostly black or dark brown it was in the shade so I'm not positive, no obvious body stripes, what appeared to be a single set of wings the length of the body, kept swept back neatly along the stocky un-wasp-like body - not held out to the side when at rest, and 6 bright yellow powerful looking legs. No long ovipositor and if it had a sting I didn't see it, but at that size I didn't get too close :-(

Fast too! One moment I was watching it, trying to memorize it - so unusual - then I blinked and it was airborne near my ear - no noticeable sound, but there were so many buzzing around I can't be sure. I ran! Later I thought to go for my camera, but by the time I got back it was gone. If I see it again I will try to get a picture, but it scared the p!$$ out of me! I have been working to learn all the US native bees, but this thing looked like Godzilla next to the relatively puny yellow jackets!

I hope my observational skills alone will help ID this monster but will attempt to snap a picture if it returns tomorrow.

Post #8775137
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Aug 24, 2011

Next time you see it, kill it first THEN take a photo. Your description reminds me of a type of bee that made a home in a house we bought in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. They do sting as 2 of my kids can attest to.

Any was, the one I am familiar with is about 1-1/2" long, slim, black. It moved differently that your regular bee. The backend sort of twitched. when at a standstill. Its' been 40 years since I seen them. Never saw this type in Nebraska, NY or WY.

Post #8775531
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bekybaby01 Milford, ME Aug 26, 2011

i just posted a picture today. is this the same bug?

Post #8778434
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