Cicada Killers
impatience_7
13 years ago
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Macmex
13 years agoRelated Discussions
Lots of cicada killers living in garden this year
Comments (1)Be sure to wear shoes while outside! My one and only sting from a Hymenopteran occured when I stepped on a cicada killer. I only screamed for a little while, lol!...See MoreCicada Killer identified & stalked by rose paparazzi
Comments (2)Oh yeah, still terribly afraid. DH took the pics. He was about 3 feet from her nest. I was an additional 10 feet back from him, watching the whole thing. We have quite a few cicadas right now. It's not the 13-year cycle, so it's not disgusting, but they're pretty thick. Sitting outside Saturday night, 1 got in my friend's purse. That was gross. I'm going to let the Cicada killer live. As long as she's killing the cicadas & leaving me be, she's welcome. The cicadas will fly up to us and hit us. The killer doesn't, as long as we don't do anything silly. Also, the killer's only active in sunlight. The cicadas are active all day and night. They are so loud between 4 and 6 pm that we cannot hear the outdoor speakers on the deck. You have to yell over them to the person sitting next to you....See More'Cicada Killers'
Comments (6)Why do you have to kill the cicada killer wasps? They are loading up those burrows with numbed cicadas, for their kids to eat. Cicada larva chew on your plants' roots & damage/kill them if there are enough larvae. If you have cicada killers, you must have plenty of cicadas---bugs don't go places where they can't find food. In other words, they are your friends, just like lady bug larva---as ugly as can be but boy do they eat aphids. The cicada killers are attracted to the sandy soil; it is easy for them to dig & it is banked a bit. That is what they need, a sandy bank. They won't hurt your plants unless there are thousands of them in a very concentrated spot. They won't sting you (unlike yellow jackets) unless you do something like grab one. All they want is to dig burrows & drag home drugged cicadas. Leave 'em alone & enjoy the show when they are dragging home the booty (Last year we had a very entertaining afternoon keeping a cat from a Mama cicada killer who was trying to drag her catch across our back lawn--too big to fly with)....See MoreCicada Killer Wasp nest, question
Comments (2)The adult wasps are probably long gone in your area. It is only the female wasp that bothers to defend her nest, anyway. By 'long gone', I mean dead. Grubs may overwinter, OR the egg chamber may be empty. It is the developing grub that feeds on cicadas. Once it reaches a certain stage, it either transforms into an adults and flies away, or it remains in a quiescent pupal stage through the winter....no stinging involved. If I were in your place, I would move this plant with total confidence, 100% security that you will not be swooped down upon and attacked. Nothing inside the nest CAN do so. Feel better? Besides, the sting of these particular insects really isn't nearly as horrid as reputed. I stepped on one with my bare feet a few years ago and only screamed for a couple of days. (Just kidding...about the days, not about the sting!)...See Moregreenacreslady
13 years agoOkiedawn OK Zone 7
13 years agosusanlynne48
13 years agogreenacreslady
13 years agoimpatience_7
13 years agoOkiedawn OK Zone 7
13 years agoimpatience_7
13 years agoOkiedawn OK Zone 7
13 years agosusanlynne48
13 years agoHU-844101353
2 years agoglynnc02
last yearAmyinOwasso/zone 6b
last yearAmyinOwasso/zone 6b
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