The **Eastern Cicada Killer** (*Sphecius speciosus*) is the largest wasp species in North America, often intimidating due to its size and loud buzzing. Despite their formidable appearance, Cicada Killers are **solitary wasps**, not aggressive, and rarely sting humans or pets unless handled or actively stepped on. They are highly beneficial in controlling large cicada populations, which they paralyze and provision their subterranean nests with as food for their developing larvae. They are only considered pests when their nesting activity damages turf or soil structures.
Taxonomy and Classification
The Cicada Killer belongs to the family Crabronidae (digger wasps) in the order Hymenoptera (wasps, bees, ants). They undergo complete metamorphosis. They are solitary wasps, meaning they do not form social colonies or defend a communal nest, distinguishing them from social wasps like yellowjackets and hornets.
Physical Description
Adult Cicada Killers are large, robust wasps, reaching 1 to $1 \frac{1}{2}$ inches in length. They are black with yellow markings on their abdomen, often forming three transverse bands. Their wings are dusky brown or reddish-orange, and their legs are stout and yellowish-red. They are often mistaken for large yellowjackets or hornets due to their coloring.
Only the **female** possesses a stinger and hunts cicadas. The males are smaller and lack a stinger but are often seen flying aggressively in mating territories near burrows, though they are harmless.
Distribution and Habitat
The Eastern Cicada Killer is found throughout the eastern and central United States. They prefer to nest in sunny, well-drained, sandy, or loose soil, such as lawns, golf course sand traps, flower beds, or the edges of paved areas. Their presence is generally restricted to the summer months when their primary prey, the cicada, is active.
Behavior and Life Cycle
Cicada Killers have a single generation per year, emerging in early to mid-summer, coinciding with the peak activity of annual and periodical cicadas. The large female digs an individual, deep, subterranean burrow with a characteristic U-shaped mound of soil at the entrance.
The female hunts cicadas, paralyzing them with a sting. She then flies or drags the paralyzed, still-living cicada back to her burrow. She deposits the cicada (or sometimes multiple cicadas) in a chamber, lays an egg on it, and seals the chamber. The wasp larva hatches and consumes the paralyzed cicada. The larva overwinters and pupates in the soil, emerging as an adult the following summer.
Feeding and Conflict
Adult Cicada Killers feed on nectar and plant juices. The larvae feed exclusively on the paralyzed cicadas provisioned by the mother. Conflict arises not from aggression, but from their nesting activity. In turf, their burrow mounds can be unsightly, and high concentrations of burrows can sometimes lead to localized turf damage or soil instability, particularly around sidewalks or retaining walls.
**Note on Stinging:** Only females can sting, and they do so primarily to paralyze cicadas. They are generally reluctant to sting defensively. Males will fly at intruders but cannot sting.
Management and Prevention
Control measures are usually unnecessary and discouraged due to their beneficial role. If nesting sites are causing structural damage or are in high-traffic areas, control can be implemented:
- Cultural Control: Watering the area heavily or disturbing the soil surface (raking or stomping down the mounds) can discourage nesting, as they prefer dry, loose soil.
- Individual Treatment: If necessary, individual burrows can be treated by applying an insecticidal dust directly into the tunnel entrance after dark (when the female is inside) and then sealing the entrance.
- **Exclusion:** Plant dense, healthy turf in susceptible areas, as they prefer bare or sparse soil.
Conservation and Research
Cicada Killers are important natural controls for cicada populations. Research focuses on their complex behavior, particularly their burrowing and provisioning strategies, and their role as specialized predators in urban and suburban ecosystems.