Cicada Killers are a type of wasp that dwells in the ground. They get their name from their tendency for females to paralyze and carry away cicadas to their nest. From there, the wasp will lay an egg in the cicada and bury it within its burrow, so that the larva has food when it hatches. If you have cicada killer wasps living on your property, you may want to have them removed. Recon Pest Control can help.
Cicada Killer Wasp Habitat
Eastern Cicada Killers are found throughout the eastern half of the US, and in some parts of Canada. These wasps are larger than many other wasps in our area, with females growing as big as 2 inches long. They mainly nest in solitary burrows under dry, bare soil.
Male and Female Cicada Killers
Male Cicada Killers are often much smaller than females. They have no stingers and are often given less food to grow and develop. A female egg may be buried with more than one cicada, while more than one male egg may be buried with a single cicada. This lets the females grow bigger and stronger, and develop to take down cicadas. Compared to other wasps, the sting of a cicada killer is much less painful, and the venom milder.
Generally, the male’s only purpose is breeding. Males may fight each other by tackling each other midair as they fight for territory. Because males do not have stingers, they pose no threat to humans. A territorial battle may seem concerning to people, though, as angry-sounding wasps clash.
Pest Control for Cic5ada Killer Wasps
Treatment for cicada killers usually involves applying insecticide to the affected dirt. The focus of treatment is to eliminate eggs and larvae that will overwinter underground. This will help prevent further expansion of the wasps in your area. One female’s burrow can include up to 20 nest cells, each with 1-2 eggs.
Recon Pest Control is fully licensed, insured, and certified for pest removal services in New York and New Jersey. Our team has over a decade of experience in pest and wildlife removal. We use treatments that are kid and pet-safe to ensure that we do everything we can to protect your family every step of the way. Contact us today for your pest or wildlife removal needs.
