Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp

Open areas such as lawns, gardens, and pastures with well-drained, sandy soils for nesting.

Adults feed on nectar and plant sap; larvae are carnivorous and feed on cicadas provided by the mother.

Solitary wasps that dig deep burrows in the ground. Females paralyze cicadas and drag them into the burrow to serve as food for their offspring. They are active in mid-to-late summer.

Generally non-aggressive toward humans unless stepped on or handled; males have no stinger. They provide ecological benefits by controlling cicada populations but can be a nuisance due to their large size and burrowing.