Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp

A few days ago I heard a blood curdling scream from the backyard. You know, the scream where you can tell there's an actual emergency, instead of, say, running outside to find that someone simple screamed because they heard the ice cream truck or saw a fire fly. Back to the scream, it was bad. I ran out to find James swooping in to rescue Katie. As he was wrapping his arms around her to hold her, I saw this winged beast in her hair. I yelled for James to back away but he didn't see the wasp and the combination of screaming and yelling sent him over the edge. He started to cry in panic. He was worried about his sister (for once!) and Tyler started crying because everyone else was crying. I had to grab this thing by the wing and fling it away. When the dust settled it was clear that Katie had somehow gotten in this wasp's way and it stung her finger. Poor thing, her finger swelled up and she kept ice on it for a long, long time. After we got her settled down, James and I went out to find revenge! The wasp was languishing on the concrete...maybe it was just as traumatized? I swatted it several times with a fly swatter but it was like trying to kill a hummingbird or something. Albeit a very nasty version of one. James got out his hammer and had to hit it four times to kill it! And take note, this picture was taken AFTER several whacks with a flyswatter and four hits from a hammer-wielding protective older brother! I can't believe how sturdy it is/was. Also note, that is a quarter for comparison not a dime. I am hoping that any interactions we have with these from now on are less traumatic.