The first year we noticed them, we were pretty nervous. They are big - over an inch long - and there are a lot of them. The first year (2003, to the best of my memory) there were hundreds flying around the backyard. We got Lucy the next year, and she has helped control their population - in our yard at least. She digs them up and eats them. This is one time she does not get in trouble for digging holes! We are down to less than 30, I would guess.
They don't sting, they don't bite, unless you try to catch them in your hand or something. From what I understand, they'll sting then, but it is not the typical wasp sting - much less potent. They do charge, though. They'll fly at you and run into you, I guess to get you to move away from their nest. Pretty annoying when I'm trying to mow the grass.
They are actually pretty cool - they dig holes in the ground for their eggs, hunt cicadas (locusts), and take them into their holes for the next generation to eat when they hatch. We pretty much leave them alone unless they won't leave us alone.
This is a picture of one trying to get the cicada to its hole...
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