Those Giant Wasps? Cicada Killers
If you’ve spotted an unusually large wasp patrolling low over a bare patch of lawn or a sandy garden bed this time of year, you’ve likely met the cicada killer. Their size alone tends to alarm homeowners, but cicada killers behave very differently from the more aggressive stinging insects most people worry about.
What makes cicada killers different
Cicada killers are among the largest wasps found in home landscapes, which is exactly why they draw so much attention. Unlike yellow jackets or paper wasps, which live in colonies and defend a shared nest, cicada killers are solitary. Each female digs and provisions her own individual burrow rather than working as part of a larger colony.
Why they’re named cicada killers
As their name suggests, female cicada killers hunt cicadas, paralyzing them and dragging them into an underground burrow to provide food for their developing larvae. This hunting behavior is the reason they emerge later in spring, timed to overlap with cicada activity in the area.
Where cicada killers dig their burrows
Cicada killers prefer sunny, well-drained, and often sandy or bare soil for their burrows. Common spots around a home include:
- Bare patches in an otherwise grassy lawn
- Sandy garden beds or the edges of patios
- Along sidewalks, driveways, or retaining walls with loose soil
- Areas with thin turf where digging is easier
A cluster of small mounds with a burrow entrance in the middle is a typical sign of cicada killer activity.
Are cicada killers dangerous?
Despite their size, cicada killers are considerably less aggressive than social wasps. Male cicada killers patrol and hover territorially near burrows, which can look intimidating, but males don’t have stingers at all. Female cicada killers do have stingers but are focused on hunting cicadas rather than defending the nest, and they rarely sting people unless directly handled or stepped on.
Cicada killers vs. yellow jackets and hornets
Because cicada killers are so large, they’re sometimes mistaken for even more concerning insects. A few distinguishing traits help clarify what you’re looking at: cicada killers are noticeably larger than yellow jackets, with a reddish-brown and yellow-marked body, and they dig individual burrows in the ground rather than building a papery nest above ground the way yellow jackets and hornets do. Their behavior is also a giveaway. Cicada killers largely ignore people going about their business nearby, while yellow jackets are far more likely to investigate or defend an area around their nest.
The cicada killer life cycle
Cicada killers complete one generation per year. After a female provisions her burrow with paralyzed cicadas and lays an egg, the resulting larva feeds through summer and fall before overwintering underground as a pupa. Adults emerge the following late spring or early summer, timed closely with the cicada activity they depend on. Because there’s only one generation annually, a burst of cicada killer activity in a given yard tends to follow a predictable yearly pattern rather than building up unpredictably across the season.
What to do if you have cicada killer activity
Because cicada killers are solitary and typically not aggressive toward people, many homeowners simply leave isolated burrows alone, especially in areas away from regular foot traffic. Activity becomes more of a concern when burrows are concentrated in a high-traffic part of the yard, such as near a patio, play area, or walkway, or if a household member is uneasy around any stinging insect regardless of temperament.
A note on lawn appearance
Beyond the wasps themselves, homeowners sometimes notice small mounds of excavated soil where burrows are concentrated, which can affect the look of an otherwise tidy lawn. Overseeding or improving turf density in the bare, sunny patches cicada killers prefer can make an area less appealing for future burrowing, since they favor thin or exposed soil over thick, well-established grass.
When to call Specter
If cicada killer burrows are showing up somewhere they’re hard to avoid, or you’d like help confirming what you’re seeing, Specter’s experienced technicians can assess the activity and recommend the right approach for your yard. Give us a call whenever you’re ready — we’re always glad to help.
