Insect ID

[Chip]

this guy is about 1 3/4" long, flies fast but has been in the same area for at least a few days.

 

[nartreb]

At that size the only likely candidate is the European Hornet, vespa crabro.
The wing shape and reddish thorax are a match, but yours has a darker abdomen ... ???

 

[bobandgeri]

Could it be a Eastern Cicada Killer ? The markings on the tail are almost and exact match as in this photo:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/69405



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Cicada_Killer
While they may be frightfully large[2], female cicada killer wasps are not aggressive and rarely sting unless they are grasped roughly, stepped upon with bare feet, or caught in clothing, etc. One author who has been stung indicates that for them, the stings are not much more than a "pinprick"[3]. Males aggressively defend their perching areas on nesting sites against rival males but they have no sting. Although they appear to attack anything which moves near their territories, male cicada killers are actually investigating anything which might be a female cicada killer ready to mate. Such close inspection appears to many people to be an attack, but the wasps rarely even land on people



http://www.pbase.com/lejun/image/64913748

http://www.pbase.com/lejun/image/64913750

http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~hollidac/fingerperch.html

http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~hollidac/bighelp.jpg

 

[Chip]

Nice catch ! Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp it is, thanks.
I don't think I'll be trying to pick it up any time soon, though.

Props to Nartreb as well since "European hornets (Vespa crabro) are often mistaken for cicada killers."

 

[nartreb]

Nice job B&G! Got any clue about this wasp or this (?)bee?