Twelve Cicada Killer Wasps Facts For New Jersey Homeowners

Warning Signs Of A Cicada Wasp Infestation

Have you seen what could be considered a “giant wasp” flying around in your yard? Have you seen piles of dirt near potted plants or along your walkway? Have you heard the death cries of Cicada bugs ringing in the air? You may have a cicada killer wasp problem or you may have an abundance of cicadas around your property. While these insects are not likely to sting there are some things every New Jersey homeowner should know in case they encounter these wasps.

Twelve things to know about cicada killer wasps

They aren’t as scary as they sound

Sure, they have killer in their name. But they are only scary if you are a cicada bug. These wasps, almost exclusively, kill cicada bugs. In fact, they don’t just kill them, they take great effort to bring those cicada bugs back to their tunnel chambers to feed their offspring.

They aren’t as scary as they look

Sure, it is disturbing to have 2-inch wasps flying around in your backyard, but this wasp species isn’t aggressive at all. They’re not social wasps which gather into swarms to protect their nests. Cicada killer wasps keep to themselves. You don’t have to worry about a few hundred 2-inch wasps pouring out of a nest to chase you across your yard.

That stinger isn’t as scary as it looks

While the female cicada killer wasp has an impressive stinger, which she stabs deep into cicadas to paralyze them with her venom, she doesn’t really have any interest in stinging a human. Some people even handle these wasps without being stung, though we would not recommend that. A cicada killer wasp can sting, and it is quite painful. But stings from female cicada killer wasps are rare. And male cicada killer wasps aren’t able to sting at all.

After mating with females, male cicada killer wasps die

While many female insects keep the male around to help with the production of offspring, the females of this wasp species do not.

Male cicada killer wasps can be aggressive

While they don’t have the ability to sting, that doesn’t keep the males from acting in an aggressive way when they perceive a threat. But they’re all bark and no bite.

Tell-tale tunnels

These wasps create a recognizable horseshoe shaped mound around their tunnels.

Cicada killer wasps prefer to make their homes in the ground

When they tunnel, they push the dirt up and out of their tunnels. Many consider the mounds of dirt produced by these wasps to be unsightly. And, for a 1 to 2 inch insect, they can push out a lot of dirt–as much as 100 cubic inches.

Tunnels made by female cicada killers can be as long as 70 inches

If established in the wrong areas, these tunnels can sever grass roots and cause turfgrass to become brown and die. Most of the time, they are actually beneficial to lawns by helping with aeration.

These wasps have a fondness for sandboxes

If you’re seeing U-shaped mounds of dirt around tunnel holes in your sandbox, this should be addressed before an unwanted encounter with children can occur.

A “wasp on steroids'” appearance 

A cicada killer wasp is black and pale yellow with red eyes and two prominent antennae on the front of its head. Its wings are a reddish brown and poke out from the sides of its back, up near its head.

There are four types of cicada killer wasps in the United States

They are sphecius grandis, sphecius hogardii, sphecius speciosus, and sphecius convallis. But, though there are four species, they all present the same problems to home and business owners.

Professionals can help treat for cicada killer wasps

Cicada killer wasps are one of the many insects that professional pest controllers inspect for and treat for. If you have ongoing pest service, it is likely that your cicada killer wasps issue will be addressed as standard practice. If you’re in our New Jersey service area, the pest pros here at Arrow Pest Control can help you take care of that problem.

Home Protection Program

Service consists of the elimination of your current pest or rodent problem, complemented by both interior and exterior year-round protection of your home, which is inclusive of three seasonal visits. The program covers your entire property including attics, mailboxes, playsets, sheds, and fences.

Pests targeted with Arrow’s Home Protection Plan services include ants (excluding carpenter ants, pharaoh ants and acrobatic), bees, boxelder bugs, carpenter bees, carpet beetles, centipedes, cicada killers, clover mites, crickets, digger bees, earwigs, fabric & paper pests, fleas (inside only), ground beetles, hornets, mice, pillbugs, millipedes, rats, roaches, silverfish, sowbugs, spiders, springtails, stored product pests, and wasps.

*If you have a pool house that requires service, pricing would increase based upon the size of the structure.