CLOSED: Satanic Orange Hornet I.D

I don't have a picture as I am NOT even going to attempt it. These are huge hornets/wasps/whatevers. They start coming out of the ground this time of year and in a couple months when the fruit hits the ground we will be SWARMED with them. They're extremely aggressive and are a lightish orange colour. I'd say around/nearly 2 inches long. Any ideas?

It really would help if you could take a photo (did you try a telephoto lens?), as your description does not match any wasp species that I am familiar with that should occur in Tennessee. The largest wasp native to the state is the cicada killer (Sphecius speciosus; family Sphecidae). It looks like a yellowjacket on steroids (see http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~hollidac/cicadakillerhome.html), but it is not aggressive. Males may get in our face, so to speak, when defending territory, but they lack a stinger. Other large wasps you might encounter include the European hornet (Vespa crabro; family Vespidae - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vespa_crabro) and the great golden sphex (Sphex ichneumoneus; family Specidae - see http://pick5.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_JSA32). Neither of these are particularly aggressive; I have worked in close proximity to a European hornet colony without ever being stung.

The body shape is like a cicada killer... it seems like that's what it is. They're a big problem around here..something about the drought. They're very aggressive though. I can be standing 20 yards or more away and if one sees me it high tails it and tries to attack me. But maybe it's like all these websites said, curious, noisy but prolly won't sting. They are a different color though. A lightish orange and I didn't see black on them. We have hundreds and hundreds of the lil buggers. :-(

oh yeah, thank you! ^_^

The Cicada Killer could be your bug.
However, all that I've read about the very large wasp is that they are very solitary.

Here's another type of wasp that it might be, but they too are solitary.
Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)
http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/649/

But look further into the family of the Sphecidae
http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/b/Hymenoptera/Sphecidae/none/none/genus/0/

I know it's probably not much help, as there are tons of them........
But for me, it is very fun to research.

Also try this huge resource:
http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=digger+wasp&search=Search

I don't see it in the images. I am gonna have to smack one and get a picture I guess, lol. Gives me chills thinking about it.
Im pretty sure these wasps are solitary too, they just congregate while they're feeding on the fallen fruit of our trees.
Thanks so much!

They are kind of a solid golden color like the gold in this wasp.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/68796

If they have markings I can't see them... I usually run the other way when they start attacking me LOL.

Your devil wasps might be a member of this family then.... ( Polistes )

( lots and lots of pictures )
http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Polistes&search=Search

And also the local Dave's Garden pictures:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/b/Hymenoptera/Vespidae/Polistes/none/genus/0/

thanks again,

Paul

I didn't find it there. Im gonna keep my eyes peeled for one outside and try and get a good look at it.
Thank you very much!