What type of flying insect is this I have looked all through the inernet and no picture.?

Question

It is brown with white stripes an inch maybe in length wings I guess on the back side (I always run when I see it coming because it is huge and and big (plumpy back), look like it could have a stinger it is not a wasp because a wasp back is thin. It can fly in one place at times. It is creepy and I am scared of it. It looks like a bee, hornet and wasp but it isnt what is it ? I dont want something this big stinging me or my children I left the lawnmower running when I saw it coming my way it is huge. thank you

Answer 1

If it looks like a bee but is bigger, is it a Carpenter bee?

also calld a woodboring bee

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/im...

Answer 2

It sounds like a type of bee fly or hover fly. They mimic bees to fool predators. They are harmless, can't sting or bite and they eat nectar. Some species are beneficial because the larva feed on Aphids and White flies.

Answer 3

You might be looking at a Cicada-Killer Wasp. These fly very low to the ground, almost hovering in mid-air, and they are HUGE--and very menacing looking. They live in the ground in holes, and you can actually see the large hole they dig out.

They look creepy, but they're very useful and almost never agressive. They won't swarm and sting you unless you grab one. (Don't.)

They are really useful to have around, because they kill off the "june bugs" (Cicadas) that make so much noise and damage so many trees.

Here's a picture:

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/199/c...

Answer 4

I think that I know what you are referring too. It looks like a cross between a wasp and a butterfly. I saw it flying from flower to flower and just stared at it because I couldn't make out what type of insect it was. It's beautiful and huge but it seems harmless. I will check on your answers to see if anyone is able to identify it.

Answer 5

check out this page,i think it's a form of ambush bug,but if not search through this site it's probably here.........tom