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Nature

Cicada Killer

What is cicada killer?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

Common name cicada killer[1]
Scientific name Sphecius speciosus[2]
Type solitary wasp[2]
Family Crabronidae[4]
Prey cicadas[1]
Nest site ground burrow[3]

Cicada killer is a large, solitary wasp that hunts cicadas and provisions its nest with them for its young. In North America, it usually refers to the eastern cicada killer, *Sphecius speciosus*.

Context

The cicada killer is a large, solitary wasp that hunts cicadas and provisions its nest with them for its young [1]. In North America, the name usually refers to the eastern cicada killer, *Sphecius speciosus* [2]. Females sting and paralyze cicadas before carrying them to a ground burrow, where the wasp's young feed on the prey [2]. Adults are commonly seen in July and August [2]. The insects are considered beneficial because they help control cicada populations [3]. Males do not sting [5]. Some sources describe them as not likely to sting unless directly handled or disturbed [2].

Documented claims

  • Females sting and paralyze cicadas before carrying them to the burrow. [2]
  • Adults are commonly seen in July and August. [2]
  • Males do not sting. [5]

Related

Dog Day CicadaDog Day Cicada is a specific species of cicada that the cicada killer may prey on.

Questions and answers

Do cicada killers sting humans?

They are not likely to sting unless directly handled or disturbed [2]. Males do not sting at all [5].

What is the most aggressive wasp in Canada?

Cicada killers are not aggressive; they are solitary wasps that rarely sting people [2]. They are often confused with more aggressive insects like yellowjackets or giant hornets [2].

What is the pain index of a cicada killer wasp sting?

The pain index is not specified in the sources, but they are described as not likely to sting unless handled or disturbed [2].

Sources

  1. Cicada Killers - Extension Entomology - Purdue University — extension.entm.purdue.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Cicada Killers | Extension Entomology - K-State Blogs — blogs.k-state.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Cicada Killer Wasps - Entomology - University of Kentucky — entomology.mgcafe.uky.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. Cicada Killer - Field Guide to Common Texas Insects — texasinsects.tamu.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. Cicada-killer wasp | Description, Solitary, Predatory, Parasitoid, & Facts | Britannica — britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Nature