Eastern Cicada Killer

Natural Habitat

Open areas with well-drained, sandy soils, such as lawns, flower beds, and golf courses, often near trees where cicadas are found.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on flower nectar. Larvae are carnivorous and feed on cicadas provided by the mother in underground burrows.

Behavior Patterns

Solitary wasps that tunnel into the ground to create nests. Females hunt and paralyze cicadas with a sting to serve as a food source for their offspring. Males are territorial and will hover around nests, though they lack a stinger.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits the ecosystem by controlling cicada populations. They are generally non-aggressive toward humans and rarely sting unless directly handled or stepped on. However, their tunneling can cause minor aesthetic damage to lawns.

Identified on: 4/17/2026