Eastern Cicada Killer

Sphecius speciosus is the largest solitary wasp in eastern North America, with adults reaching 4-5 cm. Despite the imposing size and 'killer' name, the species is genuinely benign toward humans. Males lack a sting entirely; females will sting only when grabbed or stepped on barefoot. The species is named for its prey: cicadas. A female cicada killer hunts annual cicadas (typically Tibicen species) by patrol flying around tree trunks, locates one, and stings it once with paralyzing venom. The cicada — often heavier than the wasp — is then dragged or flown to the wasp's pre-dug burrow in well-drained sandy soil. The wasp lays a single egg on the cicada and seals the chamber; the larva consumes the still-living paralyzed cicada and pupates in the burrow. Adults emerge the following summer. Major colonies of cicada killers can host hundreds of solitary nests in a single sandy bank or sloping lawn — making it look like a swarm, even though each female nests independently. Public-health agencies receive thousands of misplaced 'killer wasp' calls each summer; actual bites or stings are vanishingly rare.