Eastern Cicada Killer

Sphecius speciosus, the eastern cicada-killer wasp, is a large, solitary digger wasp species in the family Bembicidae. They are so named because they hunt cicadas and provision their nests with them. Cicada killers exert a measure of natural control on cicada populations, and as such, they may directly benefit the deciduous trees upon which the cicadas feed. Sometimes, they are erroneously called sand hornets, despite not truly being hornets, which belong to the family Vespidae. Scientific Name: Sphecius speciosus Range: Eastern & central U.S. Size: 15–40 mm Status: Native ID Notes: Massive size, rust-red and yellow with banded abdomen. Behavior / Notes: Females paralyze annual cicadas, drag them to ground burrows, lay eggs on them. Males appear aggressive but lack stingers — cannot sting.