How To Get Rid of Cicada Killers

When it comes to pests, some naturally seem more intimidating than others. Some pests simply do their own thing and are small and not noticeable around your home and property. While others can be large and in charge.

Certain pests can be even more intimidating when their names include things like “killer” or “murder”. These types of words don’t really make you feel very comfortable about being around them.

Enter the Cicada Killer. This pest is definitely a large, alarming sight to see. But what do you need to do if you start to notice them around your home? How do you get rid of cicada killers, and are they a danger to you? Do they live up to the “killer” name? We have all the answers for you here.

What are Cicada Killers?

Cicada killers are a wasp species that is commonly found in warmer areas. They are a larger wasp species, and that is one of the reasons why people are so frightened by them. It is also a reason why so many people look for ways to get rid of cicada killers. These pests are about 1-2 inches in length. They have a very unique coloring, with orange wings and a black body marked with horizontal yellow bands.

But what makes them even scarier is the fact that they can be commonly mistaken for the Murder Hornet. Remember our talk about pests being intimidating when they included scary words in their names? The Murder Hornet is definitely one of those.

The Cicada killer gets their name from what it eats. They kill Cicadas, paralyze them with their stingers, and carry their bodies down to their underground holes to eat them.

Are they Harmful to Humans?

Cicada killers aren’t harmful towards humans unless provoked. They are even less aggressive than most other wasps. Now there is always the chance that they can sting you. And since they do have venom in their sting to paralyze the cicadas they eat, those stings can affect certain people more than others.

So…if you find yourself being stung by a cicada killer and notice anything more than a small welt, it is best to get medical attention.

Do They Cause Damage?

These wasps are also known as “ground digger wasps” because they make holes in the ground to nest in. Obviously, this causes a lot of damage to yards and a good reason to get rid of cicada killers.

Cicada killers create a series of tunnels in the ground under a hill of dirt with a hole in the center of it. The hole in the middle is where the female will come to the nest to check on her larvae. Dry, sandy soil is going to be the best place for them to make themselves comfortable.

When checking your property, you will want to look for areas like dry patches in your lawn where dirt may be exposed, under bushes, or within the dirt in between your lawn and sidewalk for signs of their nests.

How Do You Get Rid of Cicada Killer Nests?

Cicada killers like sandy, dry soil, so they won’t want to be burrowing into thick, luscious grass. So fertilize, water, and seed that grass! Not only will you end up with the most beautiful grass in the neighborhood, but you will also get rid of cicada killers.

When cicada killers don’t have their main food source around, these wasps turn to flower nectar and sap from larger trees. So, if they are attracted to your beautiful flowers, then it might be time to eliminate some of your plants to keep them away.

Once you have done your best to try to keep them away, you need to try to get rid of cicada killers by eliminating their nests. You can fill the tunnels with water and wash away the piles of dirt surrounding them. One natural option is using vinegar alongside water.

A common way used to get rid of cicada killers is by locating the individual holes and applying some sort of solution to it. This is time consuming, especially if your yard is full of these cicada killer wasps. Harsher chemicals like boric acid or delta dust can be used but would need to be applied down into the hole in order to kill the wasp and the eggs.

These solutions are sometimes helpful to homeowners, but they don’t always get rid of cicada killers’ nests nor do they stop them from returning and wreaking havoc once again on your beautiful yard.

The best solution to keep cicada killers’ nests away for good is to have your yard treated by our experts at Kapture Pest Control. The current nests will be treated, and then your yard will be regularly treated as a preventative measure so that the cicada killer nests don’t return in the future.

Call us for Help

If you find cicada killer nests around your home, don’t let them destroy your yard any longer. Give Kapture Pest Control a call, and we can help get rid of cicada killers in your yard quickly and efficiently. Don’t waste your valuable time hunting cicada killer holes in your yard when Kapture has the equipment and solutions that target them directly. Get rid of cicada killers once and for all by scheduling an inspection with one of our knowledgeable techs.

If you have any questions about this pest or any other, Kapture is always here to help. At Kapture Pest Control, we offer free phone consultations to answer any questions you may have.

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