Cicada Killer Wasp
Interesting Facts About The Cicada Killer Wasp
The cicada killer wasp is a specific species of digging wasp that hunts and kills cicadas, a large grasshopper-like insect, to feed its young after they hatch. The most common type of cicada killer found in North America is known as the Eastern Cicada Killer, and they are natural to the eastern and Midwestern United States. This particular species can also be found in Mexico and Central America.
The cicada killer wasp is a fairly large size wasp – approximately 1 to 2 inches in length. They have a big, hairy black body with pale yellow stripes going down their back and some rust colored markings along the middle. Their wings are reddish brown in color and are almost equal in length to their body. With their large size and yellow stripes, this type of wasp is often mistaken for a yellow jacket.
At up to 2 inches long, the cicada killer is one of the largest species of wasp found in the United States. Despite their size, they are not aggressive toward people unless they are disturbed. Cicada killers are usually found in fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar and pollen from the flowers. They come out in the summer months, appearing in mid-June, and generally only stay around until September.
The nest of the cicada killer wasp is dug as a burrow in the ground. These burrows can sometimes be spotted because of the loose dirt mound that surrounds the tiny hole. It is usually the female cicada killer who digs the nest. When she has mated and is ready, she will place her eggs in separate chambers inside the burrow. Once the female has dug burrows and successfully mated throughout the summer, she will begin hunting the cicadas that give this wasp their name.
Searching low tree limbs for cicadas, this wasp species will paralyze the cicada with its sting and then drag it back to the burrow to use as food for its newly hatched young. At least 1 cicada will be placed in each cell of the burrow with a single wasp egg, although sometimes 2 or 3 cicadas will be used. A wasp egg hatches within 2 or 3 days of being laid, and the larva will then feed on the cicada for up to 10 days after hatching until the only thing left of the cicada is its hard outer shell. By the time fall begins to settle in, the wasp larva will spin itself into a silk casing where it will spend the winter months.
This type of wasp is not typically a pest in gardens or around the house. They do not nest in trees and don’t burrow into thickly grown grass or plantings, so they are not a problem in lawns or gardens. This is a solitary wasp species that keeps to itself and rarely presents a problem for humans.