The cicada killer wasp does look scary when buzzing around a Philadelphia neighborhood. However, for the most part, the two-inch-long giants are harmless to people and animals. The females will only sting if caught by an animal or provoked by a human. Their sting does cause pain and a dog will not try to bite them again after getting stung. The males will fly around people and animals who get close to the nest, but they are harmless.
The wasps do have some positive attributes. First, they help with keeping the cicada population in check. They are also helpful pollinators. The adults' primary food choice is nectar. So, why is an infestation of cicada killer wasps a problem? It is the way they build their nests, which can cause a lot of damage to yards or landscaping.
The wasps are ground diggers. They dig tunnels in the ground to create a safe place to lay their eggs. The wasps prefer soil that is loose, sandy, and well-drained. They do not tunnel around things such as plant roots or vegetables. As a result, plants will suffer root damage and root vegetables do not stand a chance. Wasps will also dig around sidewalks, walkways, patios, and driveways, which could cause the pavement to become loose or uneven causing a hazard. To prevent fall hazards and gardens ruined, a call to a pest control professional may be the next step in stopping a cicada wasp killer infestation.
WHAT DO CICADA KILLER WASPS LOOK LIKE?
Compared to other wasps, the cicada killer wasp is rather large. The females are 1 ½ to 2 inches long. The males are slightly smaller. Their head and thorax are rust color and the wings are translucent with shades of brown. The female wasp’s abdomen is black and pointed. The males' abdomen is more rounded. The body usually has three yellow stripes. The female stingers are approximately ¼ inch.
WHAT DO CICADA KILLER WASPS EAT?
The female wasp stings cicadas to bring them back to her nest. She will deposit cicadas into the egg chambers and deposits her eggs on top. Once the egg hatches, the larva will eat the cicada. Adult wasps do not eat cicadas. Instead, their diet consists of flower nectar and tree sap.
WHERE DO CICADA KILLER WASPS LIVE?
The female wasp is responsible for digging a nest for laying her eggs. She likes to choose a spot in full sunlight. She prefers well-grained or sandy soil because those soil types make digging easier.
The wasp will dig an opening approximately 1 ½ inches in diameter. The opening leads to the primary tunnel. The tunnel is 12-18 inches and about a foot deep. Off of the main tunnel, the female creates chambers for her eggs. Once the chambers are built, she will hunt for cicadas and bring them to the nest. She will leave a cicada or two in each chamber. She will lay her eggs on top of the cicadas. Once the eggs are laid, she will seal the chambers to keep the eggs safe. The young wasps will stay in the nest throughout the winter. In the spring, they emerge from the tunnel as adults. The new female wasps will start the process over again and start to dig their tunnel. They often dig their tunnel near the existing tunnel.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY CICADA KILLER WASPS
The wasps do not have any interest in people or pets. They are however, interested in the yard, garden, and areas around the patio, sidewalks, and driveway. Someone who works hard to have a beautiful garden will not be happy with the wasps making a home in their yard. They are diggers who build their nests underground. Some of their favorite places to dig include gardens, around trees, and bushes. Their tunnels could cause damage to the roots of flowers and plants in the yard causing the plants to die.
The garden is not the only place where they dig their tunnels. The wasps will also tunnel under sidewalks, patios, large decorative rocks, and more. Their tunnel system could cause pavers and sidewalks to become uneven or dislodged causing a potential fall risk.
ARE CICADA KILLER WASPS AGGRESSIVE?
No, the wasps are not aggressive towards people or pets. The females are the ones with the stingers. They are too busy trying to capture and kill cicadas to worry about people or animals. Now, if a person or animal starts to swat at them or becomes a nuisance, the female will give them a warning. She makes a buzzing noise and will flash her warning colors to discourage predators. If that does not work, she will use her stinger.
The male wasps are the protectors and are territorial. They usually never leave the area of the nest. Though the males may look mean and tough, they are harmless. They do not have a stinger. As a way of protecting their territory, they will fly around anything that gets too close to the next, including people, animals, and lawnmowers. They have no problem getting close to a human's or pet's face. Most people tend to forget or do not know that males are harmless because of their large size. The males can be intimidating to other males. Male wasps do not like other male wasps. They will become aggressive towards each other. As females emerge from the nest, they will be aggressive towards males and females. Males will attempt to capture females for mating. They will not tolerate any other males getting near the females or the nest once the female starts laying eggs.
DO CICADA KILLER WASPS CARRY DISEASE?
Cicada killer wasps are not known to carry or transmit diseases to humans or pets. Unless provoked by a person or a dog tries to catch it, the cicada killer will not sting. Their sole purpose is to sting cicadas and bring them back to the nest for feeding their young. Getting stung by the wasp does hurt and may cause some discomfort. Ice or a cold compress and pain relief will help to relieve the discomfort from the sting. People who are allergic to wasp stings, in general, may suffer from a more severe reaction including hives, trouble breathing, nausea, and dizziness. A person should seek medical attention if suffering an allergic reaction to the sting.
HOW TO DETECT CICADA KILLER WASPS
Signs of a cicada killer wasp control problem include:
•Regularly seeing a wasp flying with a cicada in its grasp. •Seeing mounds of dirt approximately two to five inches tall with a finger size hole. •Discovering loose soil next to patios, sidewalks, walkways, driveways, and decorative stones and pavers. •The ground above the wasp’s tunnel will feel soft when stepped upon. •Hearing a buzzing sound in the yard.
HOW TO PREVENT WOOD CICADA KILLER WASPS
To help protect against cicada killer wasp issues the following steps should be taken:
•Block or flood the opening of their tunnel. Seal the opening hole of the tunnel with mulch or pour water into the hole. •Prevent wasps from digging in the yard and garden by keeping them watered •Keep the lawn free of debris, maintained, mowed, frequently watered, and fertilized •Place a thick layer of mulch around trees, bushes, and other places where cicadas make their home. •Eliminate the cicadas. •Place a tarp over the area where the tunnels' openings are located. The tarp will keep the wasps from returning to the nest.
HOW TO TREAT FOR CICADA KILLER WASPS
At Newtown Termite & Pest Control, we use a multi-faceted approach for treating hornets and wasps that have become problematic for area homes and businesses. Our methodology involves making use of the most appropriate detection, prevention, and treatments methods available. By combining these measures, we ensure that your home or business remains free of wasps and hornets.
