How to Get Rid of Cicada Killers?
What’s larger than a bumblebee, and it loves to burrow into the ground? Cicada killers. These killer wasps are prevalent in the southern states, but they’ve made their way to New Jersey. Being proactive is the best way to handle this dangerous pest.
Identifying the Cicada Killers
You may have a hard time identifying these cicada killers if they’re in flight, as they tend to travel at fast speeds. While they look vicious, their sting isn’t nearly as bad as other wasp species. You will likely hear them before you see them, as they have a deafening buzz. If you thought the bumblebee was loud, then this one is even shriller.
This member of the bee family gets its name by its preferred diet. They love to dine on the cicada bug. Once they find one of these bugs to eat, they kill it and take it into their nests in the ground. Since the cicada is such a giant insect, it’s quite a feast for the wasp to enjoy, and they don’t mind sharing with their wasp friends.
Getting Rid of This Dangerous Insect
If you see more than a couple dozen cicada killers hanging around, then you need to call in professional help. However, if you want to try a few methods on your own first, then here are a few to consider. Before you do anything, you need to mark the area of concern during daytime hours.
These wasps are gone all day long, so it does you no good to come and spray when they’re not home. You want to wait until the evening hours to carry out your mission.
The only issue is that it’s hard to see at night. So, it would help if you marked off the area so that it can be quickly identified, and don’t forget to carry along a lantern or trusty flashlight to light the way.
1. The Boiling Water Trick
One of the safest ways to eradicate these wasps without harsh chemicals and sprays is to use boiling water. Grab a stockpot and bring some water to a boil. Next, grab a glass bowl that you can cover the holes with to avoid the wasps from escaping.
Pour the boiling water into the holes and quickly cover the holes with the bowl. Let it sit overnight, and you should come back in the morning to check the area and retrieve your bowl. The bowl will suffocate most of these cicada killers, and the ones that don’t get suffocated will perish due to the heat of the sun reflecting through the glass. You may need to repeat the process if you see more wasps flying around.
2. Chemical Killers
If you want to use a chemical trick, then you have a few options. Bleach, ammonia, and boric acid are all excellent choices. While they may be considered a bit unorthodox, they do work well. The only issue is that bleach and ammonia will kill the live cicada killers, but it won’t kill their eggs. Thankfully, but boric acid will kill both eggs and live wasps.
Simply locate the holes and fill them with any of these chemicals. Just like with the boiling water, you fill the gaps and then cover them with a glass bowl. If you can get your hands on a sufficient quality of boric acid, it’s the best to use to handle problems now and in the future.
3. Pesticides
If your household methods haven’t brought you any luck, then you can move to the pesticide line.
Each pesticide has specific instructions for how to use them effectively. Some come in liquid form, while others are dust or powder. It will help if you read the risks involved with each one before you make an informed decision.
Be careful using professional-grade pesticides as they do work, but they can be dangerous for folks who aren’t trained in how to use them. They’re problematic for those with breathing issues, and some aren’t very good for the environment.
Why Preventative Measures Are Best?
The thicker your ground cover, the more challenging it is for cicada killers to burrow into the earth. When they find that your yard is too difficult to penetrate, then they will move on to another location. They like lawns that have soft spots as they can’t dig as well as some critters.
If you have an area that seems to attract them regardless of what you do, then you should consider using mulch. Mulch is impossible for them to borrow through, so this will detour them. Drenching the holes is another trick that seems to work well as they prefer dry soil to wet.
The more you water your yard, the more you will discourage yellow jackets and wasps from burrowing in the ground. Though these wasps are relatively large, they still don’t have superior digging skills.
If you have bare spots on your lawn, then you need to plant grass. Bare spots are considered the most accessible place to set up a new home, especially since these spots are often softer.
Hiring Professional Exterminators in The Garden State
It seems easy enough to tackle this problem yourself, but what if you have a fear of wasps and other insects? Or, what if you just don’t want to mess with it because you want the assurance that it’s done right? Then you need to hire a professional exterminator to handle this issue.
Most people think that hiring an exterminator will be expensive, but by the time you add up your time and the remedies and supplies you need for the do-it-yourself method, the cost is comparable. These killer wasps can make a massive mess in your lush, green space, and the holes they dig are unsightly.
It’s best to leave a good size problem to the professionals. We are well trained and have expertise in handling these pests, and we’re not afraid to attack the cicada killer wasps head-on.
