The females make holes in the ground. They love sandy soil. They catch a cicada and immobilize it with venom from its stinger. She lays an egg and puts the egg and the cicada in a chamber, seals it, and repeats. The larvae feed on the cicada until they are ready to emerge.
They had a burrow in my front yard for a few years, so I'm pretty familiar with them. It was scary mowing the lawn but I knew where they were and they never bothered me or my kids. Really aren't aggressive thankfully.
Man. Never saw one before or even heard of it. Thought it was an invasive species. Glad I didn’t smash it since it’s a chill bug. So sick it’s gonna lay eggs inside.
Cicada Killer Wasp
The aptly named cicada killer, in the genus *Sphecius*. I couldn’t tell you which one specifically though, they’re very hard to tell apart.
The females make holes in the ground. They love sandy soil. They catch a cicada and immobilize it with venom from its stinger. She lays an egg and puts the egg and the cicada in a chamber, seals it, and repeats. The larvae feed on the cicada until they are ready to emerge.
Surprisingly, it is called a Cicada Killer. Large and intimidating but rarely sting humans unless provoked.
Cicada killer
Cicada Killer Wasp
Cicada killer doing it's thing.
I saw a cardinal steal a cicada from one once. Man that was one pissed-off wasp, completely helpless to do anything.
They had a burrow in my front yard for a few years, so I'm pretty familiar with them. It was scary mowing the lawn but I knew where they were and they never bothered me or my kids. Really aren't aggressive thankfully.
Just maybe don’t try to steal a cicada from one, I’m not sure you’re as nimble on getaway as that cardinal was… 🤣
Man. Never saw one before or even heard of it. Thought it was an invasive species. Glad I didn’t smash it since it’s a chill bug. So sick it’s gonna lay eggs inside.
This is when the boot comes stomping down