Pat from Hilsdale, Nj writes
They make many holes in the earth with mounds of soil around them in the lawn and garden. They do not seem to sting. They look like a small brown bee.
It sounds like they could possibly be Cicada Killers. To treat Cicada Killers, you can discourage the wasps from nesting in your yard by cutting your grass on the highest setting and by adding a thick layer of mulch to flower beds during the Cicada Killer Wasp season. These wasps do not like over saturated lawns either, so over watering during their season will help prevent them. Unfortunately, there is no fool proof way to prevent cicada killer wasps. For current infestations, you would need to use Delta dust in each individual burrow. Using a residual like Talstar P will also kill them when they come in contact with the treated areas.
Answer last updated on: 05/13/2013