Cicada Killer Wasp | Pest Wranglers
(Sphecius speciosus)
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Behavior and Characteristics
- Life Cycle and Hunting
- Impact on Lawns and Pest Control Benefits
- Need Professional Help?
Understanding Cicada Killer Wasps
As a leading pest control company in Round Rock, Texas, we receive numerous calls every summer; usually, around Memorial Day, we begin to get calls
for “big scary wasps.” While they are a menacing sight, Cicada Killer wasps are harmless for the most part unless you decide you want to catch and handle one
(which we do not advise).
Cicada Killer Wasp | Pest Control in Round Rock
Behavior and Characteristics of Cicada Killer Wasps
In fact, males don’t even have a stinger, but that doesn’t keep them from buzzing around
your head, dive bombing you and acting tough! Despite all of these wasps gathered in a
small area they are not social like Yellow Jackets or Paper wasps. The job of the male is
to patrol the nesting area which is usually a soft dirt area in full sunlight and may contain
hundreds of burrows in one yard. The females build a burrow with an entrance about
1.5 inches wide and about 10 inches deep. She lays her eggs, up to sixteen, in
individual tunnels inside the burrow.
Life Cycle and Hunting
Once the tunnel is complete, the female flies off in
search of a cicada or other large insect to stash inside. This is quite a site when you
consider a Cicada is as large if not larger than the Cicada Killer wasp. Once the prey is
tucked into the tunnel the female lays an egg in that tunnel and seals it off. When the
egg hatches in a few days, the larva will feed on the Cicada or other bug. They spend all
winter in the burrow emerging the next summer as an adult to begin the process all
over.
Cicada Killer Wasp | Pest Wranglers – Pest Control in Round Rock
Impact on Lawns and Pest Control Benefits
Other than mounds of soft dirt piled up outside the burrows, Cicada Killers do very little
damage to lawns and are a great source of free pest control! In fact, they can be considered
a great source of free pest control as they help manage the cicada population.
Need Professional Help?
If you need more assistance with pest control in Round Rock, Texas or surrounding areas, and
you’re looking for a reliable “pest control service near me,” Pest Wranglers can help manage
these and other pests effectively. They can provide guidance and treatment options tailored to
your specific needs, ensuring your yard remains a safe and pleasant place to enjoy the summer.
