Hello! I love your blog, thanks so much for all of the work you do running it!
Can you share some cool facts about cicada killers please? I have one living in my backyard this summer and was TERRIFIED of it when I first saw it, but it's actually super friendly!
This is also one of my favorite wasps!
Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus), family Bembicidae, found in the eastern 2/3 of the US, Mexico, and Central America
This large wasp grows to a length of 5 cm (2 in).
The males are bold and territorial, and will often approach people. However, they are not usually aggressive, and are not known to sting people often (unless handled).
Adults feed on nectar.
Females paralyze cicadas. They dig burrows into the ground, where the place the cicada. They then lay an egg on the cicada, which the larvae feed on.
photographs: Bill Maynard & Larcolt
photograph by Troy Bartlett
