![]() By brushing away the pile of dirt at the entrance of the burrow, the female will become disoriented and won't be able to find her way back to the nest location. Males may actually defend their territory by dive-bombing people's heads and shoulders!Ĭicada killers can be hit with a badminton or tennis racket while in flight, or they can be stepped on as they are entering or exiting their burrow. Sometimes they may fly erratically near people, causing panic. Sometimes these wasps can be troublesome in high-traffic home and commercial areas such as around swimming pools and golf course greens, tees and bunkers. Usually it is not necessary to control cicada killer wasps unless their presence is a nuisance. U-shaped tunnels created by female wasp during burrowing.Ĭicada killers are generally considered beneficial, as they feed on cicadas, which can damage young trees. Cicada killers have only a single generation per year.įemale cicada killer with captured cicada. The larvae will pupate and emerge as adults the following summer. During the fall, the grublike larvae spin a silken cocoon for protection from the ensuing winter. The larvae complete their development in 4–14 days. Upon hatching, the larvae begin feeding on the paralyzed annual cicada provided to them. Typically, eggs hatch in about two to three days. While they may appear aggressive, they are harmless. Male cicada killers are very territorial and will approach humans, animals and other males, trying to enter the nesting area. The burrows remain open while provisioned by the female. A single burrow may eventually have 10–20 cells. If all the cells are filled, secondary tunnels are constructed and provisioned. At the end of the burrow are usually three to four cells where one to two cicadas are placed in each cell with an individual egg. She then lays one egg on each cicada in each cell. The female cicada killer paralyzes her prey by stinging the cicada at the base of the foreleg, and then dragging it to the oval-shaped chamber. Some females may nest around planters and flower beds or under shrubs, ground cover, etc.Ĭicada killers may tunnel as much as six inches deep and another six inches horizontally. The excess soil thrown out of the burrow forms a U-shaped mound at the entrance. The soil is dislodged by her mouth, and loose particles are kicked back using her hind legs. Each female digs an individual burrow 6–10 inches deep and one-half inch wide. Cicada killer females can cause unsightly soil mounds, often displacing several pounds of soil while tunneling. They are also commonly found on sand-based golf course greens and tees or in sand traps, and in sandy playgrounds or volleyball courts. They may burrow near sidewalks or patio edges in home lawns. The female wasps prefer to dig new nesting holes in full sun, where well-drained soils exist and vegetation is sparse. The males typically die soon after mating. Adults live approximately 60–75 days and feed on nectar and other plant exudates. Life Cycle and HabitsĪdult wasp emergence generally occurs by the first week in July and may continue throughout the summer months. Their distinct warning colors and loud buzzing make them intimidating to both predators and humans. ![]() Their coloration may resemble that of yellowjackets and other wasps or hornets. Typically, the male wasps are smaller than the females. The head and thorax are dark red, while the wings and legs are brownish. ![]() Adults are approximately 1⅛ to 1⅝ inches long, very robust, with a black body marked with yellow to white stripes. The cicada killer is one of the largest wasps in North America. IdentificationĪdult cicada killer male guarding territory. Cicada killers are generally considered beneficial, and control is rarely needed except when wasps are present in unwanted areas. Females may sting when handled roughly, but typically, they are mild-mannered and will fly away when disturbed. Males have especially aggressive territorial behavior, but they are incapable of stinging. However, homeowners may become alarmed because of their exceptionally large size and activity around nesting sites. Cicada killers rarely sting humans unless someone tries to handle one. As indicated by their name, these wasps hunt annual cicadas. There are several other species occurring throughout the United States, including the Pacific, western and Caribbean cicada killers. This species of wasp occurs in the eastern and midwestern states of North America and southward into Central America. Eastern cicada killers ( Sphecius speciosus) are large, solitary wasps belonging to the family Sphecidae. ![]()
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