It’s time to set the record straight. The cicada killer wasp is not the same as the Asian Giant Hornets that are such a threat. In fact, this wasp species could not care less about humans, as they’re only after one thing: the cicada. Their large size is quite menacing, but they shouldn’t be feared. So what does a cicada killer wasp nest look like? Let’s find out!

The cicada killer wasp is much different as their name implies, they’re toxic, but are only a threat to the cicada. They won’t sting you unless you grab them or step on them with your bare feet. Since they like to make their nests on the ground, you risk stumbling on them in the late summer and early fall months.

Their pattern follows much like the yellow jackets, which seem to be at their height during the fall festivals. Like their buzzing cousins, the adults feed on the nectar of berries, fruit, and plants. Since they create nests in the ground, they’re often called ground hornets.

The Four Species of Cicada Killer Wasps

Though the news only depicts one type of killer wasp, there are four different species found in the United States. Their proper name is sphecius, and here are the subspecies:

1. Convallis (Pacific Cicada Killer): Found in North and Central America

2. Speciosus (Eastern Cicada Killer): Found in America and Mexico and even more common in Canada

3. Grandis (Western Cicada Killer): Found in North & Central Americas and Mexico

4. Hogardii (Caribbean Cicada Killer): Found in more tropical climates like Florida and the Bahamas.

The Prey: Cicadas

Let’s face it; cicadas are an unwanted pest in Garden State and around the country. Fortunately, these noisy bugs can’t bite, sting, or carry disease. Nor are they aware of the answer to what does a cicada killer wasp nest look like. While rare, these species can cause damage to plants and trees, and the annual species aren’t as harmful.

These flying bugs often emerge in plague numbers and are an unsightly nuisance. Plus, their combined mating chirps become an almost deafening roar. They also leave thousands of exoskeleton shells clinging to everything during molting season.

In this case, the ground hornet benefits your yard and garden. Consider that only one female killer wasp can kill as many as 100 cicadas for her young. You’ll see fewer cicada shells, and their annoying mating buzzes won’t be as loud.

The Sting of a Cicada Killer Wasp

You’ve probably read about the migration of murdering hornets to areas in the United States. They are native to Asia and are the most prominent member of the wasp family in the world. Panic ensued in 2019 because a few of these menacing insects were discovered in the United States.

Murdering hornets are a threat to the native honeybee population, which is already precarious. These hornets are called “murdering” because they viciously attack and eat bees. Even worse, they are highly aggressive, and multiple stings can quickly kill a human.

Judging by the size, it may be easy to panic and mistake a more docile wasp killer with a murdering hornet. Fortunately, reports of these dangerous insects have been scarce and only along the west coast, but none in the Midwest or East. When you’re familiar with the physical characteristics of a cicada killer wasp, it’s less likely you’ll make an identification mistake.

These flying assassins are more extensive than most wasps at an average of two inches. You’ll also notice several bright yellow markings on their brownish or black bodies and amber wings. Another feature that sets them apart is their thicker “wasp” waist and bulging red eyes.

So what does a cicada killer wasp nest look like? Let’s find out!

How to Spot a Cicada Killer Wasp Nest?

Most bees or wasps have a hive or nest, but what does a cicada killer wasp nest look like? The cicada killer wasp has a finely constructed burrow. It’s the female’s job to create a home for her offspring, and she likes to build in the bare soil. The dens must have full sunlight, which helps her eggs hatch without her patrolling them.

She often looks for a location that’s under bushes or close to sidewalks where there’s dirt or sand for her to utilize. Once she mates, she starts the excavation process for her babies. She will look for any mound of soil or sand where she can work. The burrow is made into a U shape to allow her to labor with ease.

Most cicada killer wasp burrows only have about 15 cells used for egg chambers. Each cell must be large enough to contain one egg and up to three live cicadas. Now that the burrow is finished, the deadly hunt for prey begins.

She finds a cicada to attack, gives it one sting to paralyze it with her venom, and then carries it away to a burrow. Now, it should be noted that the cicada is not dead when they go into the hole; they’re only paralyzed. So, they are alive and see everything happening, but they’re unable to move or escape the hold of the topsoil prison.

Fortunately, there are usually plenty of cicadas to hunt during the latter part of summer, which is the wasp’s prime mating season. After she has captured enough prey and distributed them among the egg chambers, she’ll begin to lay eggs. Even though some cells may have up to three cicadas, she will only lay one egg per cell.

She lays the egg underneath the paralyzed bug, which must be positioned near its second leg. Uniquely, when the killer’s egg hatches, it will feed from the cicada’s body for nourishment to grow. It’s clever when you consider that the mother provides food for her eggs because she knows she’ll be gone.

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