ID these weird bee looking things swarming around sand pile

[LD1]

Got a ton of these weird bee looking things swarming around the kids sand pile area.

I dont think they are agressive and I dont know if they sting or not, cause I can walk through and they just ignore me.

They only seem to be buzzing around the sand, rarely land, and only fly a few inches off the ground.

 

[KTurner]

The pics and the behavior are close to what I was seeing in my front yard earlier. I posted a message, with a pic, but nobody was able to id them. From looking around at images on the internet, it appears they may be some sort of sawfly. I was seeing them in southeast virginia about ten weeks ago. I haven't noticed them lately, at least not in big numbers like when I posted about them.

Keith

 

[jerry56]

If they are really big they might be cicada killers....because they aren't real aggressive, well unless your a cicada...then they kind of ruin your day....and they dig burrows...and just read this...
It is not unusual to see two or three male wasps locked together in apparent midair combat, the aggregate adopting an erratic flight path until one of the wasps breaks away.

 

[Coyote machine]

Cicada killers is my guesstimate too. The will take down a cicada and destroy it big time.
https://www.google.com/search?q=pic...xLuPD4AOM8YHICA&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=1600&bih=767

 

[LD1]

Well that certainly looks like them...

I wonder if they sting..if provoked

 

[k0ua]

Well that certainly looks like them...

I wonder if they sting..if provoked

Cicada Killers are helpful to people since they eat cicadas. Cicadas can be pests when they eat trees and plants. Sometimes, these wasps can be annoying since they may dig burrows in lawns or gardens. Cicada Kilers rarely sting humans. Only the females have the ability to sting, and they only sting in defense if handled.


I guess "dont handle them"

 

[LD1]

It only concerns me cause they are swarming the 3-year-olds sandbox.

ITs a BIG sand box....20T of sand, but it seems these cicada killers are ONLY swarming around the sand....

I guess I'll keep him out of there till they are gone. ITs too hot and humid to be outside today anyway.

 

[orezok]

Post your picture on Bugguide.net You'll probably have a couple of answers within minutes from entomologists.

 

[bcp]

Another ID page:

The WHY Trap for Wasps, Hornets & Yellowjackets from RESCUE!

Bruce

 

[Dingeryote]

Cicada Killers.

We have them here, and encourage them by leaving them alone.

They are curious about anything moving through their "Holding pattern" and will swoop in, if you walk through, but they are harmless.
Any insect that buzzes through gets smacked though, and it's impressive like a little linebacker putting a monumental hit on a running back.
The "Whack" is audible from several yards away.

They generally burrow in an area where the Cicada larvae have hatched, so it's best to just let them alone to do their thing, and not disturb the ground until they are done keeping the things in check.