Invertebrate Blogging: Cicada Killer

This lovely, albeit intimidating creature is a female "Cicada Killer" wasp (Sphecius speciosus) that my father-in-law spotted buzzing around the Audubon Center in Prospect Park this weekend. Although this wasp may be mistaken for the European Hornet, which is about the same size, it has entirely different life habits. Unlike hornets, which are social insects, these wasps are solitary creatures. They get their name from the fact that their primary prey item is the cicada. In late summer, the female will hunt down cicadas, paralyze them with her sting, and then drag them back to her burrow where the unfortunate cicada will be placed in a cell along with an egg. The larva will hatch and devour the cicada before overwintering in a coccoon. Adults feed primarily on nectar, saving the cicadas for the kiddies. The male cicada killer will aggressively defend nesting sites, but since he has no sting, it's all show. Females can sting humans, but rarely do. Unlike bees, their sting is primarily adapted for paralyzing cicadas, not defending against mammalian predators. I saw the very same species last year when my parents were up for a visit. My mom spotted one subduing a cicada near a port-a-potty in the park. I'll try to dig up that photo and post it here later in the week.

Please visit The Friday Ark at Modulator for more pics of critters both spined and spineless.

Comments

[Redneck Warren]

ya well i seen them in my backyard so i just got some gasoleen n poured it down their front door and lit it. torched em out. gee was that a fire! had the kids all rowdyed up n everything. course the fire departmint came and cited me for fire hazard n i dont see why... i was just trying to get rid of them varmints.

[Alana]

Today me and my friend were sittin gon the porch and we saw on about... 5 1/2 INCHES LONG!!! We screamed and hollored! We didn't get stung. Please contact me at the email adress give and tell me if I really saw this speciman. Thank you.
Alana

[Dave]

I have these cool bugs at my place! I just dicovered what they are and its cool! I was gonna kill em but I found out they just are gone at the end of August and wont "bug"
us so party on killer bee!
Dave

[Teresa]

Hey I saw one of these I think, yesterday early morning outside my apartment. Me being alergic to stinging insects my brother smacked it for me. I'll tell you it was HUGE!

[Pip]

I still wish you'd turned the poor thing loose. You can see, in that first picture, it's just hanging by its stuck left leg, looking at your camera like "a little help?"