Seeing large wasps around your home or business? While wasps can often be a cause for concern for homeowners and businesses alike, the truth is that not all wasp species are threatening pests. Some species are simply pretending to be threatening, when in fact they are entirely harmless. One of the best examples of this is the cicada killer, a common sight around lawns and gardens during the summer. While they may resemble threatening pests such as hornets and yellow jackets, the truth is that they are rarely a nuisance pest, and may even be beneficial.
But what are cicada killers? And why are they not a threat?
Cicada killers are a species of wasp known for their large size and distinct coloration. They grow to over 1.5-inches in length, have a yellow-black striped abdomen, and a brownish-red thorax. These features often result in them being confused with the similarly colored European hornet. Though they may look threatening due to their size and often territorial nature, the fact is that cicada killers rarely, if ever, sting humans or animals. The males of the species are unable to sting at all, and their aggressive behavior is just a facade designed to secure their space from other members of their species.
The female cicada killers use their stingers primarily to paralyze cicadas and other insect prey. During the summer season, female cicada killers build subterranean nests with individual catacombs for each of their eggs. They then capture cicadas using their venom to paralyze the pest and lay eggs inside the cicadas themselves. The paralyzed cicadas then become a food source for the newly hatched cicada killer larvae. Though this process is rather gruesome, it can actually be beneficial for protecting your home, lawn, and garden because cicada killers help to control populations of cicadas and other destructive pests.
Another reason cicada killers are typically not a pest problem is the fact that they are a solitary wasp species. Unlike social species such as yellow jackets or hornets, cicada killers will not establish nests with large populations on your property. While their subterranean nests could disturb your lawn, this is relatively unlikely unless the cicada killer population around your property is unusually high. Further, while it is theoretically possible for female cicada killers to sting humans, they have very weak venom and their stings are relatively painless.
If I think the wasps on my property are cicada killers, should I not call in a licensed pest control service?
While cicada killers are not a threat to your home and are easily mistaken for other pests, it is not impossible to mistake other wasps for cicada killers. European hornets are extremely similar in size and flight pattern to cicada killers, and approaching wasps without caution could be a big mistake if they turn out to be a more aggressive and threatening species. Homeowners should exercise caution when approaching any type of wasp, as it is often difficult to distinguish them until you are in close contact.
Due to this risk, it is often best to call in a licensed pest control service to inspect your property if you spot wasps of any kind. While they may end up being harmless cicada killers, it is important to ensure that they are not some other, more threatening species in proximity to your home.
At Volunteer-Rid-A-Pest, we have decades of experience dealing with pests of all kinds. Our highly trained technicians can inspect your property to verify and identify any signs of pest activity, and from there we can construct a customized, targeted treatment plan to deal with pest threats around your home once and for all!
So if you are a homeowner in Chattanooga or Cleveland looking for safe, effective, and reliable pest control, call us today at 423-698-7205 OR 423-472-7736 to schedule an inspection!
By: Erik
