While in North Carolina, I saw a couple of Cicada Killer Wasps.
I'm sure we have them in Indiana too, but I don't see them that often. They can be up to two inches long and are a pretty impressive looking bug. When I was about seven or eight, I walked around the block with a friend and saw one coming in our direction. We turned around and ran for a whole block before looking back. Maybe a couple of years later, I found a couple of dead ones in my grandparents' yard and saved them because they looked so creepy and cool. Though I wasn't a particularly bug-phobic kid, this insect definitely haunted my nightmares.So here's a couple of links to more information about this fascinating insect. Enjoy!Cirrusimage.com has more pictures.Ohio State University Entomology has a great fact sheet, which says, among other things: "Sometimes they may fly erratically near people, causing fear. Males may actually defend their territory by dive bombing people's heads and shoulders!" Eek! I'm no longer scared of them, but if I got dive-bombed, I would probably rethink that.Professor Chuck Holliday's Cicada Killer Page provides information on their behavior and tells you how to get one to land on your finger! (Umm, no thanks?)