eastern cicada-killer wasp
Quick Summary
The eastern cicada-killer wasp (Sphecius speciosus) is a large, solitary wasp found in North America. These wasps are known for hunting cicadas to feed their larvae.1
Cicada-killer wasps are typically black or rusty in color with yellow bands, resembling hornets. Females are larger than males, reaching up to 1.5 inches in length. While they can sting humans, they are not generally aggressive.1
These wasps are ground nesters and are considered parasitoids, meaning their larvae feed on other arthropods. Adult females paralyze cicadas with venom and store them in underground burrows as food for the hatched larvae. Adult wasps primarily feed on flower nectar. Females usually live for about a year and produce one brood of offspring.1
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