Mutant Wasp
 

So I was out on the back deck when I saw this thing land in the grass...at first I thought it was a hummingbird, it was so big. Went inside and got my camera...this thing had a Cicada in tow! Anyone know what kind of wasp this is? (Aside one I probably shouldn't be getting that close to?)

Bet that thing could put you to the ground! Cool pics though!

LOL...thanks; I'm lucky the pics turned out because I inadvertently had the lens on manual focus and I was holding the camera over the bug while taking pics without putting my eye to the view finder...I didn't know if those wasps are aggressive and the last thing I wanted was for that thing to fly up at me while I'm 6 inches from it LOL.

Found out what it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphecius_speciosus

Looks like a yellow hornet. If you see a gray pinata in a tree with these things swarming do not knock it down unless you are really fast on your feet.

Looks like it wasn't too much of a threat to you after all.

Unless I dressed as a Cicada for Halloween :D

I can't recall the name of the species but, they are very beneficial.

Wasp !! <'TK><
 

Cicada killer
 

It's a cicada killer wasp; it stings the cicada and carries it someplace to (I think) lay an egg on it so the larva has food. They pretty much leave you alone, but will totally freak you out if they come close without warning. I wouldn't hassle them too much because they're hard to kill and probably pack a punch. I've sprayed them with wasp and hornet spray and it only kind of stuns them.