Cicada Killers

Cicada killers, Sphecius speciosus, are large and solitary wasps that are widespread east of the Rocky Mountains and are active from mid July to September. Males emerge first. They stake out and defend territories in anticipation of females that emerge about a week later. Both males and females drink nectar for their own sustenance. Female cicada killers hunt cicadas by sight, sometimes capturing them in flight, and deliver a paralyzing sting. The living cicada is stuffed down a burrow as provisions for the developing cicada killer larva.