Trying to Identify A Stinging Insect Similar to Wasp or Yellow Jacket?

Question

I was watering a plant in my backyard today when I came across what I thought was a bumble bee. It was about 1 1/2 inches long with a very fat shiny black stinger with yellow stripes on it. However, the body and wings were a brownish-red color. It was a large insect, not slender at all and it had quite large eyes. It made a buzzing sound like a bumble bee. The stinger was broad and fat and came to a sharp point. I thought I had it killed after stepping on it and spraying it with bug spray, but when I came back with the trash can, it was gone. I am concerned because I have dogs and children that like to play in the backyard, but this is unlike any wasp, bee or yellow jacket that I have ever seen. And it is by far, the largest bee of any kind that I have EVER seen. Please help if you have come across this type of insect.

Answer 1

http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&k...

http://bugguide.net/node/view/226

Try these 2 families.  The stinger in these and in the wasps are really ovipositors.  made for depositing eggs usually into a plant or other insect.  In many wasps these are modified for stinging.  In most species they are only used for egg laying.  It also means they are the female of the species.  Some males in the Horntails have a spear like plate on the last abdominal tergite.

Answer 2

Possibly a European hornet. These are often misidentified as Japanese hornets. Check the link for pictures and characteristics.