Summary:
The Great Golden Digger wasp is fearsome looking, but they rarely sting. They are great insect hunters and very beneficial for gardens, so they should not be controlled or killed.
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
Annie
30 Jul 2009, 23:29
I like seeing that some folks take care not to harm insects that are
beneficial or not a threat. So many seem to kill first, ask questions
later or not at all it's no wonder our crops lack pollinators. The Great
Golden is a truly impressive insect, and with a face big enough to really
notice. As a child I was a "bug-watcher", and hope more parents will
encourage interest (and caution) rather than fear in their children.
Jim tucker
18 Aug 2009, 09:08
I have digger wasps digging away in my back yard in Florida. I spray the
nests with insecticide then the next day the wasps are digging in another
part of the yard. Wasp spray seems to make them angry but has no affect
other then that. What damages do these insects cause to our lawns besides
the mounds of sand and dirt and what insecticide should I use.
Jim
Jackie
27 Aug 2009, 14:02
Would this type wasp excavate through grout (for cement steps)? We saw
something big flying around our front cement steps a few days ago, and now
we have excavated grout there where it was flying into and out of.
