For some people, cicadas are the stuff of nightmares, especially when, like in 2021, it’s a year for the infamous Brood X cycle, and they seem to be everywhere.

For some insects, though, cicadas aren’t the stuff of nightmares; they’re the stuff of dinner. One of those insects is the cicada killer, a type of wasp that likes to prey on cicadas.

Cicada killers can be quite large– up to 2 inches in length– and look like a huge hornet or yellow jacket. In fact, they’re often mistaken for a species known as the European wasp.

Facts and Myths

Due to the well-deserved reputation, many members of the wasp family have for stinging, a lot of people fear cicada killers when they see them. The truth, though, is that cicada wasps rarely pose a threat to humans.

Most cicada killers that you’ll see are males patrolling nesting areas. However, male wasps cannot sting, so even though they might buzz around people or even dive-bomb them, they can’t actually hurt people. On the other hand, females can sting, but since they do not come out to defend their burrows, you pretty much have to pick one up to be stung by it.

Another misconception about cicada killers is that, like some other wasps, they are social creatures in that they live in colonies or other concentrated areas. The truth is that they are usually solitary. Although there may be multiple nests in one vicinity, the wasps do not actually live or work together. These “aggregations” can cause problems, though, and we’ll get into that a little later.

The Life cycle of Cicada Killers

Female cicada killers like well-drained areas with light, textured soils and receive a lot of sunlight (sounds like many people’s yards). They burrow a hole that’s about 1 ½ inches wide, and then they excavate a tunnel that can be 5 feet in length and penetrate as much as 15 inches deep into the soil.

The female will next create 4-5 “cells” that serve as a nursery for her young. She may burrow between those cells and side tunnels; the female might have as many as 16 larvae at once.

Next, things get pretty interesting from a purely nature-observing standpoint. The female cicada killer goes out and finds, stings, and flies or drags a cicada (which can actually be a little larger than she is) back to her burrow’s entrance. Instead of being dead and food for the cicada killer, the cicada is paralyzed.

Not too many people will feel too bad for the cicada now, but it does meet a pretty unpleasant fate. The cicada killer deposits the paralyzed, still-living cicada into one of the nursery cells, lays an egg, and seals off the cell. When the egg hatches in a few days, the larva burrows into the cicada and eats it from within. The female cicada killer repeats this process until she’s filled all or most of the cells.

The larvae spend the winter in the burrow, growing into adults, and then emerge the following year around mid-summer. They mate soon after they emerge and then go to work on their burrows in August. In the meantime, the adults die off, typically by mid-September. And the cycle continues anew.

Why Cicada Killers Are a Problem for Homeowners

Although cicada killers rarely pose a threat to people, they do pose a threat to lawns. Most people are perfectly happy for cicada killers to perform their role out in the woods, but they don’t want them in their lawns.

The problem has to do with those aggregations. One burrow is not a big deal, but you can end up with ugly mounds of soil from the burrow excavations when there are a lot present. All the burrow entrances don’t look so great, either.

Plus, even though these wasps rarely harm people, many of us don’t want them buzzing around the yard.

Eradication and Prevention

Before taking steps to eradicate, be sure you’ve correctly identified the problem. As is so often true in lawn care, the wrong diagnosis can lead to the wrong cure, resulting in a costly, unsightly mistake. So make sure you know what is causing any problem area in your lawn before you act. If unsure, consult with a professional who’s trained to identify problems and recommend solutions.

Getting rid of cicada killers is actually pretty simple. Please consult with a local lawn care center or provider about the right insecticide to use, mix it with water as directed, and put the solution into a hand pump sprayer because that will allow you to make the targeted treatments necessary for effective results.

Remember to use personal protective equipment, especially eye and skin protection, when working with pesticides.

A good prevention approach goes a long way to avoiding problems with cicada killers and other pests. Since exposed areas of soil are desirable to cicada killers (easier to dig in), you’ll want a maintenance plan that keeps a lush, healthy lawn. Deep weekly watering, about 1 ½ inches in general, but consult a pro since it can vary by region and time of year and mow to keep the grass high but not too high, typically about 4 inches around here (again, consult to account for regional and seasonal differences).

Keeping your grass lush and consistent not only looks good but promotes healthy roots that can better withstand weeds and insect pests. Aeration, fertilization, and weed control are all part of the game, too. Since cicada killers will also burrow in garden beds, keeping fresh layers of mulch atop them helps deter burrowing (and looks much nicer).

Sharp Lawn Care, the Region's Leader for 15+ Years

Great lawn care is essential for a home’s beauty, resale value, and people’s enjoyment of their outdoor spaces, but it’s also a lot of work that requires a lot of time and precision. Not surprisingly, a lot of people don’t have the time or the desire for it. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

At Sharp Lawn Care, we do have the time, desire, and expertise to keep your lawn looking great and protect it from what can harm it. If you’d like to get a free estimate or inquire further about killing the cicada killers or any of our comprehensive packages, call us today at (712) 253-8024!