Big Bugs In Texas ...I.D.??

RattlesnakeDan

San Antonio Texas
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So this giant bird size bug has been dive bombing me near my work area latelySmall Targets 004.JPG Small Targets 005.JPG . I finally got a picture of it when it was carrying a very large cicada around and trying to drag it up an extension cord. Looks like a Bumble bee crossed with a velocaraptor?
 

Chopperdrvr

Deep East Tx
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It is aptly called a cicada killer. One of numerous large and solitary wasps. Normally they live in burrows in the ground and are non-aggressive, however if you piss one off enough, their sting is supposed to be FAR worse than a red wasp.
 

Wildfowler

Mis'sippi
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The only one of those I've ever seen was in my childhood friends bug collection for high school. He had it pinned on a cicada (which just happened to be out that year) just like what's seen in that picture.

I've never see one alive before and am not sure he didn't import from somewhere it for his collection?

Pretty neat. Thanks for sharing this.
 

FrankT

Destin FL
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Pretty cool, going to have to build a trap for that!
 

Ratdog68

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May not wanna grab that one by the hind leg to put over the fence.
 

Curly Shuffle

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It is aptly called a cicada killer. One of numerous large and solitary wasps. Normally they live in burrows in the ground and are non-aggressive, however if you piss one off enough, their sting is supposed to be FAR worse than a red wasp.
And from what I hear they will whack you multiple times!!!:(
 

rgilbert

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Yeah they are cool looking though. I used to see them all of the time, but not so much lately. Usually when the fly around you they are not after you, just looking for a meal.
 

Chopperdrvr

Deep East Tx
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We see them around east tx fairly often. The largest ones (about 2 1/2") I have seen were in Japan. They were pretty common over there and scared the living carp out of people. Never heard of anyone who had actually been stung though.
 

Lancer

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I grew up scared of them. Turns out, that was unnecessary.
Same here, grew up thinking that was a hornet,and I was terrified! I've seen guys handle them since, not even slightly aggressive.
 

chthump

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Where I'm from, I call them Sand Wasp, because of there burrow, but the neat thing, raising cattle, I would see them hover above a cow that had a horse fly, and the wasp would drop down and nail the horse fly, then fly off into some local oak trees. When I was out spraying cattle for fly's I would always skip the herd, if I saw several of these buggers hovering around.
 
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RattlesnakeDan

San Antonio Texas
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Pretty cool, going to have to build a trap for that!
He lives under a plow disc under my work bench outside. I'll fashion a small leash for him and see if I can get him wrangled up. It's like falconry but Buggery.
The other day he was buzzing me a bunch and I finally whacked him one with my hat, knocked him to the ground and he never missed a beat, kept on rolling with no effect. Tough little guy.
 

Ratdog68

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I think Buggery has a different meaning. :rolleyes:
LOL... Proceed with EXTREME caution with that species.

First we had the T.B.P.S., now we have the C.K.B.S. too?
 

RattlesnakeDan

San Antonio Texas
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LOL... Proceed with EXTREME caution with that species.

First we had the T.B.P.S., now we have the C.K.B.S. too?
Cicada Kissing Buggery Society?
 

Ratdog68

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theblakester

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I watched a nat geo with a wasp in the desert that would burrow. This particular species would attack a desert spider and sting it. It's venom would paralyze the spider but not kill it and then the was would lay it's eggs in the spider and take it down to its burrowed out home where her larvae would feed on the spider until they grow into wasps. Anyone know if these guys just eat the locusts or do they lay their eggs in em also
 

theblakester

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Also, good to know they're not aggressive. They sure do look mean
 
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