Cicada Killers are larger that digger wasps. Use cicadas as prey and provision nests with them. Female cicada killer wasps are not aggressive and rarely sting. Males are more aggressive they defend their perch areas and nesting sites from other males but have no sting.

Size: 0.6-2 inches long

Color: Reddish and black areas on thorax and are black to reddish brown marked with light yellow stripes on abdominal segments. Wings are brownish.

Characteristics: Thorax is hairy. Females are somewhat larger than males. Solitary wasps.

Mud Daubers are known for making their nest with mud. These wasps are not aggressive but do not approach their nest without extreme caution.

Size: 0.5-1 inch long

Color: completely black or blue metallic. Some species have greenish or yellow markings on the body.

Characteristics: body is :threated-waisted”. Some species have long and thin body segments.

Nests: some build nests in cylindrical tubes, others build nests composed of a series of cylindrical cells that they plaster over to look smooth. Usually about the size of a lemon. Some species do not build nest and just occupy abandoned nests of other Dauber species.

Paper wasps build water resistant nests made out of fibers from dead wood and plant stems. They mix these materials with saliva. These nest appear as gray or brown paper material.  Usually only attack if they or their nests are threatened. However, their stings can be quite painful.

Size:0.7-1 inch long

Color: narrow bodies mostly dark brown with black wings and yellow markings.

Characteristics: Hairy Thorax. Females are somewhat larger than the males.

Nests: open combs with cells or brood rearing and a “petiole” or a stalk that anchors the nest. Usually made from paper and can be found in sheltered areas.