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Great Golden Digger Wasp

Jill R, St. Croix, Canada asks: I have large wasps in my garden and want to know how to get rid of them.

Dear Jill: The answer to this question is you don’t want to get rid of these wasps. They may scare you because of their size and because they are very curious about people and pets, dive bombing about. But, regardless of how fierce they look they rarely sting. Don't swat at them. Leave them alone and they will leave you alone, too.

These are Great Golden Digger wasps which are commonly found throughout north America. They lay their eggs in burrows and are often

seen flying low across lawns searching for insect prey. They are doing their part to eliminate insects that otherwise would do damage to the very garden you wish to rid of these “pests”.

My advice would be to take a deep breath and learn to live with these wasps. Not only are they protecting your garden, they are pollinators, as well.

Comments

Nora
31 Jul 2008, 07:59

I have these wasp looking things that are boarings holes in the sand around our pool. They look bigger ten the normal wasp. and they fly over theses holes real low. I don't know what they are and if they will sting us.

Ask The Exterminator
31 Jul 2008, 08:20

At this time of year (July) these low flying wasps are most likely Cicada Killers. If you leave them alone, they will leave you alone, but if you are feeling like something must be done the holes in the ground can be treated with a pesticide dust.

Treating wasp and hornet nests can be dangerous. The treatment should be done at night when the wasps are in their nests. Protective clothing should be worn to protect your face, neck, arms and legs. If unsure, I strongly suggestion calling a pest control professional to do the job.

Lou Castellano
03 Aug 2008, 21:18

Captured a Great Golden in my North Babylon, NY lawn 08/03/08 by slipping a small jar over it while it had started to dig. This was surprising to me because I remember as a child that these insects were traditionally etremely wary of large animals. I remember being watched intently by one of these at its burrow as I was a 9 year old (in 1964) observing its behavior. A wasp this size and this cognizant was quite imtimidating to a 9 year old. I gave it very wide berth then.

I took the jar across the street into a small wooded area, gingerly removed the cap and headed for the hills. She eventually found her way out and I suspect found a more appropriate place for a burrow. I didn't want to kill it or its larvae but I didn't want this burrow in my lawn either.

This one was huge, I'm sure 3".

Lou

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Great Golden Digger Wasp

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