I have a huge bee about 1 1/2 inches long, it has been making a home underground. Does anyone know what this?

Question

I have a huge bee about 1 1/2 inches long, it has been making a home underground. Does anyone know what this?

Answer 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada_kill...

Is it this guy?  They'll really cool.

Answer 2

It is a bumble bee.:)

Answer 3

it could be a solitary wasp.

Answer 4

it is called a Cicada Killer.  It lives in cycle of the cicadas you hear in the trees this time of year.  The female stings cicadas which paralyzes them...she flies them back to the underground nest and lays the eggs. The larvae feed off of the stunned cicadas for a few weeks then they go dormant and pupate to emerge as an adult this time next year.  The larger ones are the females, they do have a stinger but I have never known anyone that has ever been stung by one.  The males are a bit smaller in size and can be found patrolling a couple of feet above the ground near the nest site.  They can be aggressive to you but have no stinger.