TwT,
That was a great link. very informative. Unfortuantely, these insects are plentiful here in MD and I am disconcerted to learn of their ability to harm honey bees. Some years they seem to be almost as abundant as the more common wasps and have done massive damage to our lilacs and some other shrubs (girdling the bark, killing the plant). Also, the warning about their stings is an understatement; I have been stung by them a number of times (usually while destroying a nest) and it's a nasty sting quite proportionate to their appearance. I believe they are also called cicada killers which is logical as I have seen one on occasion kill a cicada then grasp it to it's underside and actually fly off with it. Amazing sight.