What is this thing???

[dogbig]

In my 40 plus years on this planet I've never seen anything like this. It was almost 3" and had a huge stinger (kind visible). Moved in an agitated style like a mad wasp and its head looked like that of a hornet.

.

[Scott McGuire]

Paging "Bug Guy"!

[HJS]

I'm fairly sure it is a horntail. It's a member of the bee/wasp/ant family. Also a slight chance it might be a sawfly... which is not a fly but still a member of the bee/wasp/ant family. I'll see if I can add a link.

http://www.google.com/search?q=hornt...w=1112&bih=598

[Bug Guy]

HJS has it - horntail wasp - family name Siricidae

http://bugguide.net/node/view/226

Sorry, a little slow on the draw. My dissertation is due to my committee on Monday.

I don't know this family very well, but could be a Tremex species. I'm pretty sure the "stinger" is actually an ovipositor (and not a stinger) in this family, but I wouldn't perform a field test.

[dogbig]

Yep, that's it!!! Thanks Guys. Apparently, its harmless. But I won't find out.