For weeks I have been trying to find out the same thing. I have them all over my front yard. They have been a real nuisance. According to the website www.masterbeekeeper.org/stinging/cicadakiller.htm They are called Cicada Killer wasps (sphecius speciosus) aka Giant Cicada Killer, sand hornet. The website provides some interesting information on their life cycle. It does say that although they are visually alarming these wasps pose little threat. Females are not agressive and rarely sting, unless excessively provoked. Males often display territorial behavior and will dive-bomb people's heads; however, they have no sting and pose no real threat. Cicada killers often nest in disturbed areas with sandy, open soils, such as lawns, golf courses, flowerbeds, volleyball courts and around swimming pools. A large population of wasps in one area can cause significant damage to lawns. Management: Control is rarely needed, except when nests occur in undesirable locations. If control is needed, cultural methods may work best. Since these insects next in disturbed areas with little or no vegetation, take steps to encourage the growth of dense lawns. Place extra mulch in your flowerbeds and around shrubs to cover sandy soil. If necessary apply and approved insecticidal powder to the nest entrance at night when the wasps are in their burrows. Be sure to dress appropriately. Wear eye protection, a long sleeved shirt, pants and boots, secure your sleeves and pant legs. Establish an unobstructed escape route and be ready to move quickly away if any of the wasps fly towards you. If you require illumination, use a flashlight covered with red cellphane for light - wasps cannot see red. Treatment may need to be repeated several times if new wasps move into the area. Sting reports vary from very mild to extremely painful. Be careful, insect stings can elicit a life-threatening allergic reaction in some individuals. Never attempt any control measure if you have a known allergy to insect stings. Here is a link that might be useful: Cicada Killer Wasps

I use perennial ageratum - EUPATORIUM coelestinum Wayside - to hide the knees of my monarda in the rain garden. I bought 6 tiny plants from Bluestone in 2007 and that was PLENTY! It expands rapidly, so a little goes a long way. I had a lot of space to cover. That said, it is SO EASY to pull and/or transplant. The light blue flowers look like a stream of water running along the garden. Cameron Here is a link that might be useful: eupatorium

Hi Northerner, I sprayed with ivory/vegetable oil/garlic in water and it did get rid of them however it seems that the beebalm was at the end its' bloom cycle anyway. Yes, the larvae are very difficult to see and it appears that they get into the unopened buds and eat the petals so flowering was sparse. I now have grasshoppers on the plant ..arggg. I have it planted in 2 other areas and they didn't have as much as a problem with the larvae and one spray with the soap seemed to do the trick. I deadheaded the plant and will see if I get any more flowers this season. I think next year I will spray as it starts growing and see if it makes a difference. Good Luck Roandco

I think you need to identify your bees in order to know what to do about them. If they are honey bees, you can get a bee keeper to come and take them off your hands. If they are bumble bees, yellow jackets or other large colony-forming bees, you will probably need an exterminator. Or, maybe try a local university entomology department. We need to preserve as many pollinators as possible, these days. Good luck, Martha