Ground Hornets or Cicada Killers, You Decide
October 30th, 2009 Posted in Stinging InsectsKnown as both a ground hornet and as the eastern cicada killer, this type of wasp is known for attacking and killing any cicada in its path.
As typical as any other species of wasp, except for the fact this species is known for truly relying on the cicada population to survive.
This article will tell you about the ground hornet’s:
Background
This species of wasps resemble large yellow jackets and are black with yellow markings. They are typically 2 inches in length. This makes them one of the largest species of wasps out there. They can grow up to 4 inches in some rare instances.
Even though they are quite large, cicada wasps are inoffensive against people. They use their stinger for hunting purposes only. The ground hornet is very territorial and will fight other hornet males who intrude upon their territory. There are 22 known species of cicada killers in the world.
Living in 4ft deep burrows in the ground, they have several unique levels, branches, and cells within each burrow. Their nests are little communities underground, as opposed to the typical place a wasp would start a nest(like under a table or on a tree).
Cicada Appetite
Literally dependent on the cicada, the ground hornet searches vigorously for their prey before laying their eggs. The female wasp searches the trunks and the lower limbs of trees to find a cicada. Once they stumble upon one, they sting it, turn it over, straddle it, and drag or fly it back to the burrow.
Upon entering the nest, the rest of the colony helps to fill each cell with at least 1 cicada, sometimes even 2 or 3, so they can also lay an egg within that cell. Placing a cicada in each cell is vital to keeping the larva alive within the burrow.
When the baby cicada killer does hatch, it’ll have a cicada in its cell, ready to be eaten and sustain them for days. This helps give the larva strength once they hatch and are hungry for some grub.
Dependent upon the number of cicadas in the larva’s cell, it’ll feed for 4 to 10 days until there is only the cicada’s outer shell remaining. After feasting on the cicadas and living in the protection of the cell, the larva spins itself into a silk case, and prepares itself for the winter cold.
As Pests
The ground hornet doesn’t bother humans, unless we bother them. Much like other less aggressive species of wasps, they don’t attack unless they perceive you as a threat.
The females hornets have stingers to hunt the cicada, thus they’re capable of a good sting. Males are incapable of stinging, and thus don’t pose a threat. The ground hornet can be a pest, dependent on where they build their nest.
As stated before, they build their burrows and nest in the ground, sometimes on beaches and sandy embankments. Thus, when a person walks on a burrow while their walking down the beach, this could pose a definite problem.
Thus, when walking in areas known for ground hornets, be aware of what to look out for or risk getting stung a dozen times.
If a ground hornet’s burrow is present on your property, try using EcoSMART’s environmentally friendly bug spray. It’s the only way to help with pest management and not use harmful chemicals toxic to the environment.
