Help ID-ing a bee

[tickle gamer]

Hi All! I was just outside, and I saw something I've never saw before.

It looked and sounded like a bee, but it looked to be about 5 or 6 inches long, and fat on both
Ends (thin in the middle).

It was black in color, and a wing span of, looked to be 2 or 3 inches.

Now, I'm not sacred of bees (been stung more than my fair share of times), but this one sacred
Me a little.

Anyone know what this might have been?

 

[arachnid95]

If it was thin in the middle, it sounds like it's more likely to be a wasp than a bee. In which case, yes--be afraid. O_O

 

[Vanillaphant]

Are you sure it wasn't a dragonfly? The size seems about right for one, and I believe the ends of their abdomens can sometimes be slightly bulbous, thus accounting for the shape. If not, then I have no clue.

 

[chicago]

Could have been a tarantula hawk. I see them here sometimes.

 

[kurchatovium]

It was most likely a bumblebee. They can get quite big and are usually black in color. We get them a lot in So Cal. They will leave you alone if you leave them alone but they are bit more aggressive then widdle honeybees.

 

[tickle gamer]

If it was thin in the middle, it sounds like it's more likely to be a wasp than a bee. In which case, yes--be afraid. O_O

If it was a wasp, it was the biggest wasp I've ever saw.

That was along the lines I was thinking though, just the size threw me

 

[tickle gamer]

Are you sure it wasn't a dragonfly? The size seems about right for one, and I believe the ends of their abdomens can sometimes be slightly bulbous, thus accounting for the shape. If not, then I have no clue.

Might have been, but it looked more like a bee (picture a slightly smaller black Beedrill from Pokemon)

 

[tickle gamer]

Could have been a tarantula hawk. I see them here sometimes.

Never heard of a Tarantula Hawk, but I did a quick search, and it looks close to it, but this had clear wings
Or looked to me like

 

[tickle gamer]

It was most likely a bumblebee. They can get quite big and are usually black in color. We get them a lot in So Cal. They will leave you alone if you leave them alone but they are bit more aggressive then widdle honeybees.

I don't think so. The buzz wasn't that of a Bumblebee, plus it dive bombed at me

 

[Bugman]

Are you sure it was that big? During my pest control years I saw some big cicada killers, but nothing close to 5 or 6 inches.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphecius_speciosus

 

[kurchatovium]

I don't think so. The buzz wasn't that of a Bumblebee, plus it dive bombed at me

Its easy to tell.... if you see the guy by some flowers its likely a bumblebee. If its not it might be a wasp though either way nothing insect like would get as big as 5 or 6 inches.

Hummingbirds will make a very low pitched buzz but they are hardly ever just black usually brightly colored.

We have a fig beetle out here that makes a very loud buzzing sound and usually flys into everything and everyone. They are a dark dark green but could be seen as black during flight. Fig beetles only come around if you have fruit trees though.

 

[rdhd]

It was a secret CIA drone. That's why it dive-bombed you. Just the controller falling asleep.....

 

[tickle gamer]

Are you sure it was that big? During my pest control years I saw some big cicada killers, but nothing close to 5 or 6 inches.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphecius_speciosus[/QUOTE

I think so. After seeing it, I came in (while the image was still in my head) and got the tape and measured
It out.

 

[tickle gamer]

Its easy to tell.... if you see the guy by some flowers its likely a bumblebee. If its not it might be a wasp though either way nothing insect like would get as big as 5 or 6 inches.

Hummingbirds will make a very low pitched buzz but they are hardly ever just black usually brightly colored.

We have a fig beetle out here that makes a very loud buzzing sound and usually flys into everything and everyone. They are a dark dark green but could be seen as black during flight. Fig beetles only come around if you have fruit trees though.

It sounded like the buzz of a wasp, but if it was a wasp, someone must have used steroids on it.

Yeah, I know it sounds like I'm making it up, but I know what I saw (just don't know what it was)

 

[tickle gamer]

It was a secret CIA drone. That's why it dive-bombed you. Just the controller falling asleep.....

LOL...Yeah, kind of doubt that.

 

[kurchatovium]

It sounded like the buzz of a wasp, but if it was a wasp, someone must have used steroids on it.

Yeah, I know it sounds like I'm making it up, but I know what I saw (just don't know what it was)

Wasps can get pretty big. I know I saw a "Billy The Exterminator" show and they showed some wasps from Louisana were he is from and those suckers were big. Bright red and looked like about 4 inches. Looked like they were pretty scary too. They only bug I ever saw about 6 inches long was a praying mantis and my first reaction was OMG WHAT IS THAT???? LOL Praying Mantis do fly but they are always either green or beige in color if they are located in North America.

Bugs dont have lungs so its hard for them to get too big. They rely on little holes in their exoskeleton to let air in. For some reason in the heat of the tropics they manage to size up better and some praying mantis there can get even bigger then 6 inches.

 

[Bugman]

Are you sure it was that big? During my pest control years I saw some big cicada killers, but nothing close to 5 or 6 inches.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphecius_speciosus[/QUOTE

I think so. After seeing it, I came in (while the image was still in my head) and got the tape and measured

It out.

It's really hard to say what it was without seeing a picture. I can tell you I got dive bombed by a few cicada killers and they looked as big as an F-16 at the time lol.

 

[shark]

Maybe this guy, they are reportedly in the US now...

 

[tickle gamer]

It's really hard to say what it was without seeing a picture. I can tell you I got dive bombed by a few cicada killers and they looked as big as an F-16 at the time lol.

I don't know what it was, but with the rumor of the killer bees being in the USA, I thought I would ask.

 

[arachnid95]

Maybe this guy, they are reportedly in the US now...


View attachment 503567

And just what in god's name is that... 0_0;;

 

[kurchatovium]

Maybe this guy, they are reportedly in the US now...


View attachment 503567

I think I have seen a few of those guys here in Southern California. They havent been a bother but then again I usually leave anything that brightly colored and mean looking alone LOL

I don't know what it was, but with the rumor of the killer bees being in the USA, I thought I would ask.

I think killer bees have kind of mellowed out from what I have heard. Everyone thought that when killer bees mated with non-killer bees that the non-killer bees would become more aggressive and violent. I think it was actually the other way around the killer bees mellowed out.

 

[tickle gamer]

Maybe this guy, they are reportedly in the US now...


View attachment 503567

I have actually saw a few of those around. Nobody here knew what they were, so thanks for posting that.

That is one mystery solved.

 

[IrvingKrebb]

Japanese giant hornet, maybe. And those things can be deadly.

 

[arachnid95]

Japanese giant hornet, maybe. And those things can be deadly.

Fricking what now? Those things?? I-I thought I was safe from them here....!

 

[shark]

Irving Krebb nailed it.