Holy bigness!
Sat, Nov 22, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Holy bigness!
This thing FREAKED my husband out today when he found it on our recycle bin. Being “nature girl” I had to run right over and get a close look! It’s very weak, or at least acts like it. I haven’t seen it fly at all but I’m not sure if it’s because it’s colder than usual here or what. I’ve Googled my little fingers away and I’m thinking it might be a queen European Hornet. The thing is, I live in Lehigh Acres, Florida. I haven’t found any sites that mentioned them being in Southwest Florida. The way I look at it is… They fly! - They can go anywhere! Could you please help me identify it? Also, just how much danger am I in when handling it? Could I just move it somewhere else? I’m really not into killing things!
Curious Nature Girl
Lehigh Acres, Florida
Cicada Killer
Hi Curious Nature Girl,
This is a Cicada Killer, a large wasp that paralyzed Cicadas to feed to its young. The curious thing for us is that we generally get our Cicada Killer questions in July and August, and occasionally into September, but late November is very late. We have a dedicated portion of our site specifically for Cicada Killers and we have featured the Cicada Killer as a Bug of the Month recently. Now that you know what it is, you should be able to find endless information online. We have received a single report of a sting from a Cicada Killer. They are not aggressive, but males will defend their territory and though they buzz people, male Cicada Killers do not possess stingers.
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Posted 23 November 2008
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Cicada Killer Having Snack in WV
Sat, Oct 11, 2008 at 6:30 PM
These killers surrounded us this summer in Springfield, West Virginia. They like to burrow (?) in the ground - they make little holes like moles and they seemed to have made their home about 50 yards from the river, in a field, with fruit & nut trees. They like to fly at us, but then swerve real quick. We’ve seen them close to 3 inches in length! This little bugger brought down the cicada right in front of me. LOVE THE SITE! I’ve learned sooooooo much!
Julie & Steve
Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia
Cicada Killer and Prey
Hi Julie and Steve,
Thanks for your contribution to our archive of a Cicada Killer and its prey. We should clarify though that that adult Cicada Killers feed on nectar and that the Cicada is not food for the adult. The female Cicada Killer provisions her nest with a paralyzed Cicadas and then lays a single egg on each. The Cicada is a meal for the developing larva. The life cycle is expained on BugGuide in the following manner: “In two or three days after egg laying, a wasp larva will hatch from the egg. The larva immediately begins eating the cicada. When the larva finishes the cicada, leaving only the outer shell (about two weeks), it will then spin a coccoon and hibernate until the following Spring. In the Spring, the larva will leave its coccoon and become a pupa (resting stage). From the pupa, an adult Cicada Killer will hatch. It will dig its way out of the ground and look for a mate. Male wasps die shortly after mating. Females die after laying all of their eggs. “
please identify
These seem to have moved into the base of my willow tree and i am worried that they might be harming the tree. can you tell me if i need to take measures to discurage them from my tree.
Your wasps are Cicada Killers and there is no need to worry about them harming your trees. Adult wasps feed on nectar and pollen and the female stings and paralyzes cicadas to provision a solitary underground nest for her young. Cicada Killers help control the Cicada population, and Cicadas may harm your trees by feeding on plant sap at the roots when they are immature. Additionally, the female damages twigs when laying eggs, so the presence of Cicada Killers may benefit your tree. We have gotten reports of large colonies of Cicada Killers frightening people, but they are rather benign insects, though the occasional sting is reported to be painful. While it is interesting that you have titled your photograph “Nasty New Freeloaders” we feel the name is unjustified.
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Posted 27 August 2008
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Possible Cicada Killers and What’s Happening to Them?
My name is Lacie Blevins and I am from Mulvane, KS, just outside of Wichita, KS. My children and I were outside playing and noticed that we were able to find an usually large number of Cicada shells in our backyard, at least in my opinion considering we’d never seen quite that many in one area before. While looking for more Cicada shells, we noticed three dead insects, which my five-year-old daughter expertly [sarcasm] believed to be a dead bumblebee, and I a hornet, all underneath one of our trees; coincidentally, we found them under the tree with the highest number of cicada shells on and around it. After finding your website, I believe that they are Cicada Killers, but the size being reported didn’t seem to match what I found in my backyard. I have included a picture of one of the insects that I picked up out of my yard. Could you tell me if I have correctly identified the insect and what could be happening to them? I understand from your website that the Cicada Killer wasps are nothing to be afraid of, but can you tell me if there is something bigger and nastier out there that I should be worried about? Thanks,
Lacie Blevins
Hi Lacie,
Late August is about the end of the time of year you will be observing Cicada Killers, so it is possible they have just died of old age. It is also possible they have been attacked by some predator. Though we have never seen a photograph, it is possible they were attacked by one of the larger Robber Flies like a Bee Killer.
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Posted 26 August 2008
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Cicada Killer Photos
Hi!
I saw these Cicada Killers and had no idea what they were… Being curious, I got online, found your site, and learned lots of stuff! I would have killed these things for sure had I not found your site and others telling me not to worry, they won’t sting. Anyway, its mating season, and these two seem to be stuck together. I saw the male try to fly off, and he couldn’t! She was holding him down, even though his body was completely airborne! I had a pic of that, but it was too blurry. I don’t know how to take good action shots. Thought you might be able to use these pictures. Some mating, and some of the burrows in my kids’ sandbox. Too bad they can’t play in it for a couple more weeks. Thanks for your site.
Chad
Hi Chad,
Your letter makes us happy for several reasons. First, we like hearing that you took the time to research before acting upon any extermination instincts. Second, your submission is a wonderful counterpoint to the recent Cicada Killer carnage image we posted, and third, we are thrilled to hear we were helpful. We are not certain how successful this second male is going to be with regards to perpetuating his gene line, but we are impressed with his efforts. These Cicada Killers are lucky to have moved to such a tolerant location.
Update:
(08/09/2008) To Chad with Cicada Killers in kids sand box…
Daniel,
correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t cicada killer larva pupate in the chambers where they feed? If so, Chad’s kids may be without their sandbox for more than a few weeks. It would be next July before the cicada killer adults hatch out and start looking for cicadas of their own. Could he dig up the pupa and bury them in other loose soil nearby? Just wondering!
Liz Wickard, CHI
Interpretive Naturalist
City of Aurora/Parks and Open Space
Morrison Nature Center
Aurora CO
Hi Liz,
Your bring up a very good point. Relocating the Cicada Killer pupae would most likely be detrimental to their lives.
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Posted 05 August 2008
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what is THIS bug !?
I’m in Pennsylvania and we’ve never seen one of these before. Thanks
Rob
Hi Rob,
We have a sneaky suspicion that these relatively harmless Cicada Killers did not die of natural causes nor of old age, which is why we will be placing them in the Unnecessary Carnage section. We say relatively harmless because over the years we have gotten two reports of someone being stung by a Cicada Killer. Only the female stings, but she is so busy trying to provision her nest with Cicadas, that she can’t really be bothered trying to sting people. In the very unlikely event that a person is stung by a female Cicada Killer, the sting is reported to be quite painful. The male, who does no hunting, is the more aggressive appearing sex since he is territorial and will try to chase intruders, regardless of their size, from the prospective nest site he has staked out. He wants to mate and he is being protective of his territory, but he cannot sting. Though they are solitary wasps, Cicada Killers do tend to nest in proximity to one another, and when “swarms” appear, they can be quite daunting. We also just received the following letter without a photo, and posting it provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how knowledge is power, just as your letter demonstrates the extreme measures that can result from an unrational fear of the unknown.
Update: (08/03/2008) Cicada Killers in Dayton Ohio
Hello Bugman…
No fancy photos from Ohio, but rest assured we have gained great knowledge from your site. After spending the entire day researching these “hornets” in our back yard….I have concluded they are, in fact, Cicada Killers. Imagine my delight when I was able to impress my husband with my new found knowledge when as soon as we stepped into the back yard and I was describing what they were……One flew right past with cicada in tow!!! I am still a little creeped out and won’t go out there much….*wink*…..but I am not terrified and wondering what “Curse of biblical proportion was being thrust upon us”, She said with tongue very much in cheek. Great site…thank you, thank you!!!
E.M.
Hornets
We have a big landscaped island in between our circular driveway. In a storm the bradford pear split and when my husband and son went out to cut it up they were swarmed but not bitten by huge wasp looking things. I’m sending you a picture. After consulting your website it looks like they may be paper wasps. There are hundreds of them and we aren’t sure where they are coming from. It doesn’t look like they have a traditional nest in a tree or above ground. How do you get rid of them. I had to use my telephoto lens to get close enough to get a picture.
Holly
Hi Holly,
You have a colony of Cicada Killer wasps. The males are territorial, but to do not sting. The females can sting, but are very reluctant to do so. Seeing a female Cicada Killer flying with a Cicada so she can provide food for her brood is an awesome sight.
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Posted 13 July 2008
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Name this bug
Several years ago we had a load of sand brought into our yard. Since then we have had this hornet (or what ever it is) every summer toward the end of June and really bad by the 4th of July. They burrow into the sand and make their nest there. They mate like love bugs. They are about 1 to 1 1/2 inches long. So far they have not been aggressive toward me but just having dozens of them swarming around is enough to frighten me. What are they and how can I get rid of them?
This is a Cicada Killer Wasp, an important predator. Most everything we have learned about them indicates that they are not aggressive and rarely sting people, so we do not recommend their removal. We did just receive a conflicting account of an encounter with Cicada Killers that we will include with this posting.
Report of Cicada Killers Stinging
cicada killer wasps
just read all your q & a’s re these wasps, as well as, a factsheet from univ of ohio. very informative. however, my own experience differed quite a bit from this data. last summer, i was weeding a very overgrown garden bed and apparently disturbed some of these wasps. i was stung three times and chased as i ran away from the site. one sting was on my back, and the other two were on my right breast. i have to tell you that all three were extremely painful — esp the two frontal ones. i had a sore, swollen, deep-purple area from mid-chest across and over the breast to under my arm that lasted for 9 days. i have never been allergic to any stings, nor to any medicines or foods. this was soooo painful for soooo long, that i nearly went to the doctor. the site is in full sun, but not ‘clear of vegetation’ by any means. i get that the males were probably doing the chasing, but if only the females sting —- well, these three packed quite a wallop. now i just steer clear of them altogether and grit my teeth as i watch the weeds flourish. wish i could deter them w/o killing them. any suggestions. thx
Sorry, we have no suggestions on how to deter Cicada Killers.
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Posted 08 July 2008
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Cicada Killers?
Hi, I have dozens of these guys dead or twitching in my driveway and street in San Antonio, Texas. They are dropping like flies (pardon my pun!) and I was trying to make sure I had correctly identified them, and wondered if you could shed any light on why they might be dying in droves around my home? I’ve lived here 8 years, and never seen them before this year. Also, I was wondering whether or not they are aggressive, and if they are likely to sting people? Thanks for any information,
Leah Land
Hi Leah,
This is a Cicada Killer, and we suspect it did not die of a natural causes. The twitching you describe sounds like poison is involved. Perhaps one of your neighbors was fearful, though Cicada Killers rarely sting.
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Posted 06 July 2008
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Cicada Killer Wasp?
I found this brightly colored insect (Cicada Killer?) washed up on the beach in North Carolina this summer. I saw it from a distance and went over in hopes that I’d discovered a strange and beautiful shell (imagine my surprise, lol!). Anyway, great website! I’m surprised by how often I inadvertently end up here looking at bugs. Thanks for all your help!
Merritt Henson
Hi Merritt,
Your photo of a drowned Cicada Killer is quite stunning. It really shows off the stinger nicely and those awesome orange legs.
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Posted 27 October 2007
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A Question About a Wasp
Hi,
I am enclosing a photo of a very LARGE Wasp. It seems to be depositing eggs in the splits in the bark of a maple. The material being deposited by the wasp seems to be white "fluffy" and soft looking. The wasp is the largest one I’ve ever seen, probably over an inch or more in length with a very heavy body. Can you help me and identify it? Thanks
Walt Jankowski
Hilton Head SC
Hi Walt,
This is a Cicada Killer and it is not laying eggs. We believe it is feeding on the oozing sap running from the tree. Female Cicada Killers hunt and paralyze Cicadas. They then bury them and lay a single egg. The larval wasp then feeds on the paralyzed, still living Cicada, which is a fresh food supply. A dead Cicada would be dry and inedible for the wasp.
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Posted 18 September 2007
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mating Cicada Killers
here is a pic for your bug love page… several male cicada killers trying to get lucky.
Vince
Hi Vince,
Goodness, gracious, however does she manage to choose. Looks like Cicada Killers have rought and tumble sex.
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Posted 17 July 2007
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On CK wasp stings…………..
Hi Fellows;
I live in Central Florida in a small town called Mims. As long as I have lived here, the CKs have been around every summer. Scared the devil out of me until I learned what they are. Some time ago, I found a web site run by a lady who studies CKs for a living. In one of her discussions, she described how she actually induced a female CK to sting her! She showed a picture of the sting site afterwards, and according to her description, it did essentially nothing to her. Her assertion is that CK venom is so specific to cicadas that it does not cause pain in animals such as humans. Has anyone ever heard of this?
Dave Mohr
Mims, Florida
Hi Dave,
We wish you had provided us with a link to the website.
Daniel,
Try this…………… http://ww2.lafayette.edu/ ~hollidac/CKcontrol2.html
Dave Mohr
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Posted 14 July 2007
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cicada killers
here are some identification pics you can add on your site of male cicada killers.I keep them to study thier behaviour and to mate them to ensure a healthy local population of these wonderful wasps
Andrew a davis
Hi Andrew,
Thank you for your wonderful submission. Thankfully you did not include your location, as we fear you might get hate mail from the countless individuals that want to rid the planet of Cicada Killers and many other beneficial species as well. We are curious though, how you breed the Cicada Killers in captivity. Do you release the females after mating? or do you actually raise the young in captivity.
i live in [Location Withheld]. And i keep the largest males i catch in 5 gal terrariums feeding them sugarwater.I introduce the females and if theyre virgins theyll be mated.I rrelaese them after because i can’t really find any cicadas readily either.
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Posted 14 July 2007
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Posted 13 July 2007
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CK Bug Love
WTB:
Here’s a compromising shot of two Cicada Killers from July 2005 that you might enjoy for your Bug Love page (which I think is great - I had no idea there were so many bug paparazzi.
Andrew from Mercer County, NJ.
Hi Andrew,
We received another image of mating Cicada Killers today, but that couple was shy, hiding behind
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Posted 08 July 2007
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question about types of wasp
Bugman,
I have a question about a type of wasp that lives under ground. I live in Illinois, about 50 miles south of Chicago, and I’ve started finding a extremely large type of wasp. The length of the smallest is about 1 1/2″ and the largest is about 3 inches in length. The roundness of the bodies range from 1/4″ to about 3/8″ and they are very aggressive and territorial. I looked at the wasp and hornets on your sight and sorry to say nothing as big as what I have encountered. I have attached a pic of a small one that I was able to catch, its curled up, but you can see the markings and size. Please let me know if you have any info on this guy, or any questions, I would appreciate it very much. Thank you very much in advance,
Rodney
Hi Rodney,
Cicada Killer are large and territorial, but they very very rarely sting humans. Only the females sting, and they are much more interested in paralyzing Cicadas and dragging them to underground burrows where they provide food for larval wasps. Males seem more aggressive as they court females, but they cannot sting. Adult wasps feed on nectar. There is really no need to try to eliminate them.
Cicada Killer
Hope you can use these pictures. I noticed something strange with this CK when a butterfly came around it would chase it off. Have you ever heard of this. Thanks,
Sharon
Hi Sharon,
Cicada Killers can be very territorial and defensive when males are seeking to woo a mate.
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Posted 06 July 2007
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A Large Wasp or Hornet
Hi,
This bug took three direct hits of ortho wasp killer before it went down. I’m curious what type of bug this is. The three interrupted bands on it are a yellow color. Thanks,
John Walker
Hi John,
We were so horrified at the Unnecessary Carnage of this poor Cicada Killer, that we couldn’t bring ourselves to answer your email for several days.
Our 1st CK
Dear Bug Man,
The Cicada Killer in the attached photo, thanks to your site, will continue to “guard” our back step this summer (in the MD suburbs of DC). It’s a relief to know the family & especially our dog, will be able to frequently pass by him w/o being harmed. We used to have an underground yellow jacket nest in this same area. Do CKs ever move into abanadoned nests? I believe this particular CK is a male b/c he frequently rubs/bounces his tail on the step & door mat. Is this behavior to mark his turf, attract a mate or both? Even if you’re unable to responsd, THANK YOU! Your site provides a wonderful & very interesting service. Jean
Hi Jean,
According to Eric Eaton, the behavior you describe is of a male Cicada Killer marking his territory and trying to attract a mate. Cicada Killers dig tunnels with cells for individual paralyzed Cicadas and a single young Cicada Killer. Yellow Jackets are social wasps and their abandoned nests will not suit a Cicada Killer. We have decided to make the Cicada Killer the Bug of the Month for July 2007, so your photo will remain at the top of our homepage until August.
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