Subject: hundreds swammed in yard
Geographic location of the bug: kentucky
Date: 08/25/2018
Time: 01:09 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: At first I thought these had something to do with the bag worms in a tree in my yard, but I have no idea what these are, maybe a bee? It’s a full blown infestation.
How you want your letter signed: billie
Dear billie,
These are Wasps in the family Scoliidae, Scolia dubia, commonly called Scarab Hunter Wasps, Digger Wasps or Blue Winged Wasps, and they are not aggressive toward humans. Female Scarab Hunter Wasps prey upon the grubs of Scarab Beetles, including Japanese Beetles, and the large number you have encountered indicates that last year, many Beetles did not mature as they provided food for the current generation. We suspect they are interested in the evergreen shrub because they are feeding on sweet sap.