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Cicada killers are about 2 inches long and black to red, with
yellow-banded markings on the abdomen. The head and transparent
wings are reddish brown. They are not dangerous, but they are
intimidating. Cicada killers are solitary wasps, with the female
digging a 6- to 10-inch burrow (one-half inch in diameter) in
the ground. A pile of soil typically surrounds the entrance. The
female locates and stings a large insect such as a cicada or
katydid and then brings it back to the burrow. She places the
insect into a chamber and lays an egg on it; sometimes she puts
two in a burrow but lays an egg on only one. She then covers the
burrow, digs another and repeats the process. The egg hatches
into a grublike, legless larva that consumes the paralyzed
insect. Full-grown larvae overwinter in the burrows, pupate in
the spring and emerge as adults during the summer, usually in
July and August.
Male cicada killers establish aerial
territories and patrol for intruders. A male cicada killer
drives off other males that enter his territory and attempts to
mate with females. Anyone else walking into the territory is
typically confronted by a very large wasp, which hovers in front
of the face and zips to the side and back. However, after
determining that the "intruder" is not a rival, the wasp ignores
the individual.
Cicada killers are unlikely to sting a person. Wasp and bee
stingers are modified egg-laying devices (ovipositors), so males
are not able to sting. Females may sting if crushed, either by
being stepped on with bare feet or grabbed with bare hands.
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 Cicada killers are more common in areas with bare soil, so
mulching, planting ground covers or putting down sod can reduce
problems. Applying permethrin or Sevin (some suggest the Sevin dust
gives better control) to the burrowed area should kill females in
high-traffic areas. Once females are gone, males leave. In home
yards, sandboxes can be covered with a tarp when not in use, as this
deters the wasps (and also keep cats out). Sand below swings, jungle
gyms or other playground equipment is a popular site for the cicada
killer. Raking the sand may discourage the wasps, or you could use
mulch instead of the sand.
It's fair time again
It doesn't seem possible, but the calendar assures me that the
Logan County Fair actually starts next week on Tuesday, July 31. The
Illinois State Fair will start about a week later, but 4-H
involvement there will actually start about four days in advance of
the official opening date.
In case of an emergency, call the regular office number at
732-8289. Please be patient, as the office will not be accessible
during the fair, except through the fairgrounds.
The fair is a true community event, so come on out and support
your favorite activity at your community fair. There are countless
volunteer hours put into a successful fair, and your support is what
keeps the whole thing going.
[Text from file received from
John
Fulton, University of Illinois Extension,
Logan County Unit] |
Cicada
killer wasps a beneficial insect
