Cicada Killer Wasps
Cicada killer wasps are solitary, large wasps that prey on cicadas so that their larvae can feed upon their bodies. Well, they indeed look huge and make buzzing sounds as they fly but are harmless to human beings. These wasps are beneficial insects because they indirectly control the population of cicadas.
Shape Appearance
- Form: Has a significant contending size with North American wasps. The females measure approximately 1.5 to 2 inches (38 to 50 mm) in length; the males are tinier.
- Thorax: Reddish-brown
- Abdomen: Black, interrupted by bright yellow bands
- Wings: Reddish amber with translucency over there
- Body Shape: Stocky and elongated with sturdy legs and broad mandibles.
Features
- Species: The most recognized is Sphecius speciosus, the eastern cicada killer.
- Life Span: Adults live for around two to six weeks during mid to late summer.
Diet:
- Adults: Feed on nectar from flowers and on sap produced by some plants.
- Larvae: Feed solely on immobilized cicadas that the female carries as food.
- Habitat: They prefer well-drained sandy soils in the sun, often lawns, gardens, and around the edges of woods.
Behavior.
- Solitary Nature: The female does all of the burrowing; in contrast, other social wasps like yellowjackets live in colonies.
- Burrowing: Females dig deep tunnels-not less than 12 inches deep and up to 24 inches long-in which side chambers house their young.
Hunting:
- Capture and paralyze adult cicadas with their sting.
- Carry the cicada (mostly larger than them) to their burrow.
- Includes one or two cicadas in a single chamber of the burrow along with one egg.
Life Cycle:
- Larva hatches from the egg, feeds on the cicada, and overwinters as a mature larva in the burrow.
- Pupates in spring and emerges in summer as an adult.
​Eastern Cicada Killer Wasps
Most common North American species, specifically in the eastern and central United States, the eastern cicada killer wasp (Sphecius speciosus) has large black-and-yellow bodies. Sandy or loose soil is preferred by these wasps for nesting, and they are often seen in late summer.
​Cicada Killer Wasp Nest
Most commonly, a cicada killer wasp nest is constructed in arid, well-drained soil, such as a lawn, flower bed, or sandy spot. The female digs a tunnel several inches deep, where she stores paralyzed cicadas as food for her larvae. The nests are usually solitary and generally harmless to humans.
​Cicada Killer Wasp Sting
Although they can sting, cicada killer wasps have an unusual tendency to use this ‘weapon’ only when a female has been threatened; even then, a sting is rare. Sting pain is, however, less than that of social wasps or bees. Males may act territorial, but they have no stingers at all; thus, they are harmless.
​Are Cicada Killer Wasps Dangerous
Reality is that, are cicada killer wasps dangerous? Not really. They obviously look frightening but are not aggressive and will rarely sting humans. They have an important role to play in cicada control and hence belong excellently to the ecosystem.