What everyone needs to know about cicada killer wasps in New Jersey

Summertime in the Garden State is a dazzling array of blooming flowers, trees, and shrubs. You’ll have insects whenever there are plants, and New Jersey is home to countless species. The intimidating Sphecius specious is commonly called the Eastern cicada killer wasp.

Source: Oklahoma State University

Profile of a Killer

Source: Oklahoma State University

This member of the wasp family is prolific in the Eastern portion of the United States, hence their nickname. If you’re wandering around in your New Jersey yard or a park, their size makes them relatively easy to identify. Most adult female cicada killer wasps are between 1.5 to 1.75 inches, and the smaller males are 1-1.25 inches.

Like all insects, they have a head, thorax, and plump abdomen. Cicada killers don’t have the iconic thin wasp waist, but their abdomen and thorax are intricately connected. You’ll notice that both genders are black with bold yellow stripes on their stomach, sort of like a yellow jacket or hornet.

Their head and thorax are a rusty red, while their six legs are a vivid reddish orange. These flying assassins have four golden translucent wings that they hold out straight when they are resting. It’s a different pose since most wasps clasp their wings at their sides at rest.

Cicada killers have prominent eyes on each side of their heads with a reddish tinge. They also have a thick pair of black antennae and a visible black mouthpiece. Besides a difference in size, females also have a stinger on the end of their abdomen.

• Habitat

These killer wasps are in full swing during midsummer July and August, around the time that cicadas appear. They prefer green areas with plenty of blossoming plants that supply nectar. Since they burrow underground, cicada killers also need sandy or loamy areas for nesting. They are comfortable living among flower beds, parks, sandboxes, and your New Jersey backyard.

• Behaviors

Cicada killer wasps spend their days buzzing about flowers and trees to gather delicious nectar and tree sap for food. Although you may see several of these insects flying among your prized lobelias, they aren’t social like many bees and wasps. They lead a solitary life gleaning from plants and killing cicadas to return to their underground abode.

While their size makes them appear menacing, cicada killers aren’t usually aggressive. A female may bear a stinger only if she feels threatened or is handled. Even though males can be territorial and will nose dive at human or animal intruders, they don’t have a stinger and are more nuisance.

• Diet

It’s easy to misunderstand the simple diet of cicada killer wasps. While they are renowned for preying on cicadas, these will only be used to feed their young larvae. Adults will only sip flower nectar and tree sap and continue to do so until mating season.

But if cicadas only emerge from the ground around every 17 years, how will the killer wasps survive? Cicada killers feed on a species of cicada present each year, so they don’t have to wait nearly 20 years. However, they will attack and kill the 17-year species when available.

Life Cycle

Source: Kansas State University

Summer begins the mating season and life cycle of the annual cicada killer wasp population. After a female and male mate, she digs underground tunnels and separate chambers to house her young. She can lay as many as 16 eggs, which equates to one per chamber.

• Mating & Egg Laying Rituals

Now, she sets about making provisions for her soon-to-hatch brood. Cicada killers usually capture their prey mid-air and stun it with a powerful sting. Since the cicada is too large to carry and fly, she will drag it along the ground and pull it into her underground lair.

She will continue to capture cicadas until she has at least one or two for each egg. In a marvel of nature, these mother wasps will choose the gender of their eggs. She injects the males’ sperm into eggs, as she wants to be female and doesn’t want the eggs to be male. Plus, she will leave one cicada for males and two cicadas for females.

• Larvae

The mother killer wasp attaches each egg to the body of the still-living cicada. She seals up each chamber and leaves. In two to three days, the eggs will hatch into maggot-like larvae. The larvae will feed on the still-alive cicada for about 14 days.

• Pupae

After this period, the well-fed larvae will spin a silk cocoon around themselves and attach it to their chambers’ sandy sides. These pupae will be in suspended animation all winter until they emerge as adults the following summer.

• Adult

The life span of the cicada killer wasp is usually about a month, and they soon die after mating. The females hunt and burrow into the ground to make egg chambers. This life cycle repeats every year for at least 240 million years.

Hazards of the Cicada Killer Wasps

Are cicada killer wasps a pest concern in New Jersey and other Eastern states? Yes and no, depending on your perspective. They are beneficial because they kill the cicada harmful to trees and other plants. Plus, they are a natural pollen spreaders to help propagate flowers and other vegetation.

These insects don’t carry any known disease harmful to humans or pets. They are usually docile unless you accidentally step on them or make them feel threatened. Females have a nasty sting that can be painful, but it’s only life-threatening for those that are allergic to them.

Another downside to cicada killers is that they dig holes and tunnels in the ground that can be bothersome to gardeners. The overprotective males can also be a nuisance when you’re working or playing outside. They nose-dive right into you and buzz around your face.

Final Thoughts on Cicada Killer Wasps

While these wasps have benefits and are an essential part of the food chain, they are a nuisance around human dwellings. If you have problems with these flying killers around your New Jersey home, it’s time to call the professionals. You can enjoy summer fun without worrying about you, your family, or your pets being stung.

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