Eastern cicada killer

Description:

Adult eastern cicada killer wasps are large, 1.5 to 5.0 centimeters (0.6 to 2.0 in) long, robust wasps with hairy, reddish and black areas on the thorax (middle part), and are black to reddish brown marked with light yellow stripes on the abdominal (rear) segments. The wings are brownish. Coloration superficially resembles that of some yellowjacket and hornet species. The females are somewhat larger than the males, and both are among the largest wasps seen in the Eastern United States, their unusual size giving them a uniquely fearsome appearance. European hornets (Vespa crabro) are often mistaken for Eastern cicada killers. (information from Wikipedia)

Habitat:

Prairie dog exhibit at National Zoo

Notes:

When I first arrived at National Zoo, I entered at the far end (opposite the main entrance on Connecticut St.), down by the farm area. Walking past the prairie dog exhibit, I noticed a lot of buzzing activity. I was elated to see quickly that the wasps were eastern cicada killers, and they were in pretty big numbers. This must be an annual event because the zoo has erected a sign for the wasps, which I think is fantastic. It's a great way to interpret what's going on at the exhibit and it explains more about their natural history and how they're virtually harmless to humans (and the prairie dogs). Unfortunately for me, I wasn't able to stop and shoot the wasps during the best light time and came back in the afternoon when there were a lot of shadows over the area. I was forced to use flash for all of these images. :-( Based on behavior, I'm going with the idea that the wasp in my series is a male. I say this because it was constantly coming back to this piece of wood, and it chased other wasps multiple times when they got too close.