Cicada Killer Wasp

Open areas with bare, well-drained, sandy soil, often found in lawns, gardens, or golf courses.

Adults feed on plant nectar and sap. Larvae feed on cicadas provided by the mother.

Solitary wasps; females dig deep burrows where they deposit paralyzed cicadas to serve as food for their larvae. Males are territorial and may hover near humans but cannot sting.

Generally harmless to humans; females rarely sting unless stepped on or handled. They provide ecosystem benefits by controlling cicada populations and aerating the soil.