Thank you for helping identify this wasp. Do you know why they appear in our house at night, attracted to light and where they might be coming from. Could they be nesting in our attic?

and attracted by and confused by light. they dont have a nest, male wasps are solitary. they cant sting. catch them in a plastic container and put them outside. no need to kill them. they are only trying to live their little lives.

More questions: If they have no nest, where do they stay during the day and why do they appear around my reading light at night? The light confuses them and they fly wildly. It is very disconcerting.
I would like to discourage them from visiting my bedroom at night. This is the only light they are attracted to.

During the day the pretty much hang out anyplace that is sheltered. There wont really be anything you can do to keep them from coming to that light short of reading someplace else in the house. If there is no screen on the window it should be replaced to keep them out.

Thanks to all who have helped me better understand this wasp.

M. Deeds

If you find more would you mind holding onto them, Kevin Williams might be interested in taking a look at these specimens.

They must know we are on to them; they have disappeared.