Cicada Killer Wasp

Fields, lawns, meadows, and forest edges where soil is well-drained and exposed to sunlight.

Adults feed on flower nectar and tree sap; larvae are fed paralyzed cicadas provided by the female.

Solitary wasps; females dig underground burrows and hunt cicadas, paralyzing them with venom to provision their nests. Males are often seen patrolling territories aggressively but lack stingers.

Benefits include natural population control of cicadas. Risks are low for humans as females only sting if handled directly, and males cannot sting despite aggressive-looking behavior.