[skiff_life]

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.