# Ginormous Bee?!?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 29, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754 "2009-04-29T19:24:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/1 "2009-04-29T19:24:00Z")
An absolute mega-creature was buzzing around my home last night. [shudder]
I captured it and gave it a good shot of Raid - it’s now waiting in a jar for identification by the exterminator tomorrow.
This bee-like creature was at least two inches long. (No, even dead, I’m not taking it out of the jar for a proper measurement.) The abdomen was about 1/4 inch in diameter. It was like something out of a movie. . . a movie which starts with a nuclear meltdown . . . near a chemical plant . . . during a solar flare. . . after the ozone layer deteriorated.
The abdomen was a surprisingly pale yellow, with bits of black but nothing like the defined stripes I’m accustomed to.
Is it a mutant, or can anyone identify this thing? Is it safe to go back?
😕 :eek: 😕 :eek: 😕 :eek: 😕 :eek:
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### Author:  [@Myrrajh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrrajh)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/2 "2009-04-29T19:28:51Z")
I had a ginormous one in my house once and I wasn’t able to sleep until I knew what it was. In my case it was a [carpenter bee](http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/carpenterbees.htm). I’m guessing it was a queen, it was huge. Plus a month later I had 4 baby bees crawling around on my carpet.
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/3 "2009-04-29T19:30:32Z")
Sounds like some sort of wasp.
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### Author:  [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/4 "2009-04-29T19:31:00Z")
Nuke em from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.
On a more serious note, you might be able to identify it here:
[http://bugguide.net/](http://bugguide.net/)
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### Author:  [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/5 "2009-04-29T19:34:00Z")
**TruCelt** , could you please tell us your location? “Not California” would be sufficient.
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### Author:  [@Myrrajh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrrajh)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/6 "2009-04-29T19:34:40Z")
Here’s a [picture](http://johnbokma.com/mexit/2006/12/31/carpenter-bee-resting-on-my-hand.jpg) of a carpenter bee. Mine definitely wasn’t that big. If it was I would have had a heart attack.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/7 "2009-04-29T19:39:02Z")
A [Cicada Killer](http://www.rock.uwc.edu/facultypages/tklubert/images/Originals/CicadaKiller.jpg) maybe? (more a hornet or wasp I think but large)
Here’s a picture of a (I think) [Carpenter Bee](http://toxicice.com/images/mexican-fruitfly.jpg). Wrong coloring from what is described but gives a sense of their ginormous size.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/8 "2009-04-29T19:40:09Z")
> [@Myrrajh](#):
>
> Here’s a [picture](http://johnbokma.com/mexit/2006/12/31/carpenter-bee-resting-on-my-hand.jpg) of a carpenter bee. Mine definitely wasn’t that big. If it was I would have had a heart attack.
Link is broken for me.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/9 "2009-04-29T19:43:46Z")
Hmm…how about a [Hummingbird Clearwing](http://www.westford.com/fingerhut/Butterflies/Hummingbird-Clearwing.jpg)? Looks about right from the description.
That is actually a moth and harmless to you. They eat nectar.
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### Author:  [@Myrrajh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrrajh)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/10 "2009-04-29T19:58:27Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#):
>
> Link is broken for me.
It was the same picture you linked to.
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### Author:  [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/11 "2009-04-29T20:38:18Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#):
>
> A [Cicada Killer](http://www.rock.uwc.edu/facultypages/tklubert/images/Originals/CicadaKiller.jpg) maybe? (more a hornet or wasp I think but large)
I also vote cicada killer. They look very scary and the males may act aggressive but they are in fact pretty harmless to anything except cicadas.
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### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/12 "2009-04-29T20:41:21Z")
I’m in Northern Virginia, near Washington DC.
I can’t get to your cicada killer link, but found some on google images. Definitely closer than the carpenter bee, and the Capt. called it, this looks more like a wasp or hornet I think.
But it’s bigger than these. As I look at my ruler, it seems that 3 inches is closer to it than 1 inch is. Keep in mind I was freaking out, so there’s some adrenaline factor in that estimate. But I truly had no idea that any bee/hornet/wasp could even approach this size.
This might be it:
[Hornet Moth](http://neatorama.cachefly.net/images/2007-10/hornet-moth.jpg)
This is slightly closer, but shouldn’t be here [Lunar Hornet Moth](http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=2193)
Moth would explain it’s slow flight though. It was surprisingly easy to catch. Not easy, but easier than a bee should be. . .
The abdomen was not as pointy as the cicada killer, more of a fat cylinder shape.
As I chased it around with a jar and rag the Celtling stood on my foot and clung to my leg like a human leg warmer. . . next week I’ll laugh . . .
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/13 "2009-04-29T20:53:22Z")
> [@TruCelt](#):
>
> I can’t get to your cicada killer link, but found some on google images. Definitely closer than the carpenter bee, and the Capt. called it, this looks more like a wasp or hornet I think.
Well, to be fair it seems Carpenter Bees come in [more colors than black](http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=carpenter+bee&search=Search).
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### Author:  [@acetylene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/acetylene)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/14 "2009-04-29T21:50:26Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#):
>
> Hmm…how about a [Hummingbird Clearwing](http://www.westford.com/fingerhut/Butterflies/Hummingbird-Clearwing.jpg)? Looks about right from the description.
>
> That is actually a moth and harmless to you. They eat nectar.
I had one of these in my lilac bushes a few years ago. I watched it for about 15 minutes. I knew it was a moth but damned if it didn’t fly like a hummingbird. I’ve never seen one again.
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### Author:  [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/15 "2009-04-29T21:53:00Z")
I’m guessing cicada killer as well. I had one of those suckers turn up in my yard as well, and I still have the [picture](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9624983@N05/842105954/).
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### Author:  [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/16 "2009-04-29T21:57:46Z")
Is it’s body smooth and shiny or furry?
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### Author:  [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/17 "2009-04-30T00:34:04Z")
I’ve taken very few photos of insects so far. Curiously, the two most prominent are the [carpenter bee](http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinfeatherphotos/470281659/) and the [cicada](http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinfeatherphotos/963080390/) [killer](http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinfeatherphotos/953995219/) [wasp](http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinfeatherphotos/963080488/).
Note that the bee is quite harmless – the males don’t sting and the females are reluctant to sting humans. The wasp looks like evil itself and can probably put the hurt on you, but only if cornered.
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### Author:  [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/18 "2009-04-30T02:15:56Z")
> [@cjepson](#):
>
> I also vote cicada killer. They look very scary and the males may act aggressive but they are in fact pretty harmless to anything except cicadas.
I looked at the picture. I would guess that big effin’ pin through its abdomen contributes to making it harmless. 😉
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### Author:  [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2009, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/19 "2009-04-30T02:21:33Z")
> [@Sailboat](#):
>
> I’ve taken very few photos of insects so far. Curiously, the two most prominent are the [carpenter bee](http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinfeatherphotos/470281659/) and the [cicada](http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinfeatherphotos/963080390/) [killer](http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinfeatherphotos/953995219/) [wasp](http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinfeatherphotos/963080488/).
>
> Note that the bee is quite harmless – the males don’t sting and the females are reluctant to sting humans. The wasp looks like evil itself and can probably put the hurt on you, but only if cornered.
True. The grounds of my apt bldg are home to cicada killer burrows. In August when they emerge, they are all over the friggn place, but quite blasé about humans. They fly in ground effect, never more than a few inches above the soil, and they’ll brush your ankle or foot and just zip off without a care. (Creeps you out the first 10 or 11 times, though, having a 2" wasp bonk into your anklebone.)
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### Author:  [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2009, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginormous-bee/494754/20 "2009-04-30T12:51:05Z")
I vote cicada killer also. Here’s a pic of one I found in my house.
[ ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/dennis_matheson/2608398252/)
They look scary but are apparently quite harmless to humans. (They can supposedly “prick” you but don’t inject venom or anything.) They will fly at you but don’t do anything else, really.
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