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Big Bee or wasp

Can someone help me out here? I have a LARGE (approx 2") bee-like critter living in my back yard. It bores a hole in the ground, I put a cinder block over it, and the next day, there's another hole in the yard. The holes actually look like large anthills. I only see these things one at a time, so I don't know if there is a hive in there, or even if these things are bees or wasps. They're black with yellow stripes. Thanks for any help.
Contributed by Jim Berner on 9 August, 2006 - 11:05am

Sounds like it might be the Cicada Killer wasp
Information can be found in the guide here. If that looks like your critter, these are beneficial insects which will not harm you. They are large and scary, but the males have no stinger and the females are too busy collecting food for the next generation to waste time with you. Numerous females may nest in a good nesting area, but they make individual burrows for egg laying. There is no "hive" of communal animals in the honeybee sense.
… john and jane balaban, 9 August, 2006 - 11:37am

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