How To Get Rid Of Cicada Killer Wasp Holes

What are cicada killer wasps?

Cicada killer wasps are antisocial wasps compared to their relatives of wasps that build and congregate in one large nest. They are much larger too, with a growth between one and a half inches to two inches. Cicada killer wasps have the same identifying features as other wasps in their species. They are different from most other wasp species as they build their nests by digging holes in the ground. They have amber-colored wings with a black body and very distinct yellow markings on their thorax. Cicada killer wasps have one main purpose and that is to hunt cicadas, making them a cicada’s top predator. Male cicada killer wasps do not have stingers and cannot kill anything. The male’s purpose is reproduction and defending the territory of the nests. Female cicada killer wasps are supplied with venom and a stinger that is used to paralyze a cicada. While the females hunt the cicadas, they do not eat them; instead, they eat nectar from flowers and plants. The cicada serves its purpose to the cicada killer wasps by being the nutritional support for the hatched larvae which lives in the nest underground. They house the captured cicadas here and once the cicada killer wasp’s eggs hatch and are in the larvae stage, the larvae’s main dish is that of the cicada. This is why knowing how to get rid of cicada killer wasp holes is important—to prevent the babies from becoming adults.

A little background on cicadas is that cicadas are the insects that come out in the summer and early fall. All the noise heard in the trees at this time of year is the musical tunes of cicadas. Cicadas are pretty big insects, which is why the cicada killer wasp is one of the largest wasp species. Cicada killer wasps are just as big as cicadas, which is why the venom is used to paralyze it so it can be moved back to the nest.

Why do they dig holes?

Cicada killer wasps dig holes in order to build their nests underground, allowing for easier access to feed their young. When the cicada killer wasps attack and paralyze a cicada, they drag it back to the nest to feed it to the larvae. Since cicada killer wasps enjoy solitude, building a nest underground allows for the basic provisions needed without the assistance of other wasps. The female can pretty much take care of things on her own. The tunnel formed leading down to where the eggs are laid can be up to two feet deep and this can cause issues for property owners. When you have a lot of very large wasps digging holes in your yard, it begins to make the soil unstable. If you have a stone walkway or fire pit area in your backyard and have issues with cicada killer wasps, you will notice a wobbly give in the stones from an underground nest. Gardeners and flower planting enthusiasts find that cicada killer wasps can destroy the work done by killing the fruits and vegetables planted because the tunnels destroy the roots. So they work hard to get rid of cicada killer wasp holes. The good news is if you are actively watering your garden and plants, they will stay away from moist soil.