Cicada Killer Wasps (Sphecius speciosus) are solitary wasps that appear during the summer months. The Cicada Killer Wasp appears in all states east of the Rocky Mountains (related species are found west of the Rocky Mountains).

Cicada Killers are also known as digger wasps. These wasps are large and can be intimidating, but are not aggressive like other wasps such as yellow jackets. They pollinate plants and are considered beneficial to the health of the ecosystem.

The adult Cicada killers feed on flower nectar. They also kill Cicadas to feed their larvae.

How to Get Rid of Cicada Killers

If only a few Cicada Killer wasps have made their presence known in your home or yard, you can usually get rid of the problem on your own.

If the infestation appears to be larger than that, an exterminator may be considered to get rid of Cicada Killers effectively.

Chemical techniques may damage your lawn and are potentially dangerous if you have pets. It's understandable that you wish to get rid of these pests in a more natural way.

We will provide you with several DIY methods to get rid of Cicada Killers below:

1. Natural Method to Get Rid of Cicada Killer Wasps

To successfully get rid of Cicada Killer Wasps, your first step is to locate their den. Cicada Killers are also known as Ground Digger Wasps because they dig their homes into the ground. Inspect your yard for a coin-sized hole, with a mound of dirt near the entrance.

Once you locate the Cicada Killer holes, mark these spots so you can find them again at nighttime. These wasps leave their nest during the day, so to successfully get rid of cicada killer wasps, you need to apply this treatment at night.

When night falls, boil a pot of water, and grab a glass bowl. Pour the boiling water down any cicada killer holes that you have marked. Cover these holes with a glass bowl so the wasps can not escape.

In the morning, go out and check your traps. If the wasps were not killed by the boiling water, they will be trapped in the bowl and eventually suffocate.

If the wasps are dead, cover over their burrows. If there are still wasps in the area, it is possible that you missed a hole. Search your yard again for any holes and repeat the process if so.

2. How to Get Rid of Cicada Killers with Insecticides

If you notice new holes or a developing nest, you can try applying Tempo Dust to the holes' entrance. When the holes are new, you still have the potential to kill the larvae and adults.

A more permanent and preventative method would be to apply Bifen LP Granules over the whole area and water it. The Bifen LP Granules would not yield immediate results but stop them from returning the following year.

If the nest seems more well-established, we recommend trying an Aerosol spray. When you treat a Cicada Killer nest with an insecticide spray, turn your spray nozzle to a pin stream setting.

Spray a small amount of the insecticide into the entrance of the burrow. Spray these holes thoroughly as Cicada killers can burrows could be up to 5 feet in length.

The pesticide should be applied in the evening when the adult Cicada Killer Wasps are most likely to be resting in their burrow. Proceed with caution and wear long-sleeved protective gear, since Cicada Killers may emerge and attempt to sting you.

Identify

Cicada Killer Appearance

Cicada killers can be up to 1.5 inches long; males are a little smaller than females. It has a black abdomen with yellow markings and an orange tint to the wings.

Cicada Killer Wasps are often confused with hornets or European wasps. Cicada killers may look like European hornets or Bald-faced hornets, but the overall color pattern, size, and shape differ.

These huge wasps tend to leave people alone but it can be frustrating to have them flying around your home and garden.

Inspect

Cicada Killer Wasp Diet and Habits

The Cicada Killer Wasps will gravitate toward flowers, feeding on flower nectar. These wasps dig holes or burrows, preferably in soft, sandy, and well-drained soil.

You may commonly find cicada killer activity in golf course sand traps. One of their primary food sources is how these wasps got their name; Cicadas.

They seek out and hunt cicadas for food to raise their young.

The male Cicada Killers are smaller and will aggressively defend their territory from other intruding males.

They may be found on sloped terrains, flower beds, patio edges, or sidewalks, and in the yard. The Cicada Killer Wasp stings Cicada (locusts) to paralyze them and feed them to the larvae.

Many of the developing larvae may come out as adults the following year, so the numbers increase year by year.

It is important to prevent and stop this cycle to get rid of Cicada Killers. An effective method for this is to use an insecticide granule.

Cicada Killer Wasp Nests

A pile of soil is typically found at the entrance of the burrow made by Cicada Killers. As much as 100 cubic inches of soil is brought to the surface as they make the tunnels/burrows.

A female will dig a burrow that can be up to 10 inches deep and extend another 6 inches horizontally.

The female Cicada Killers hunt for cicadas on the lower limbs of trees and tree trunks. The female will sting it and carry or drag it to the burrow.

Do Cicada Killers Sting?

The female Cicada Killer Wasp is equipped to sting and eject venom into cicadas to feed them to their larvae.

They will only sting humans if caught in clothing, or caught by your bare hands. They are content with simply digging their holes and hunting for cicadas.

Cicada Killer Prevention

You want to make sure Cicada Killer Wasps don't return once you've effectively eradicated them from your yard. Cicada Killers are likely to have laid eggs before they were killed by insecticides.

If not correctly removed, the eggs will hatch soon, bringing a new generation of Cicada Killers into your home and garden.

Cicada Killer Wasp pheromones may also be left behind, attracting more Cicada Killers to your home. There are effective ways to prevent cicada killers from re-infesting, we have listed a few below:

Mechanical Prevention

Since Cicada Killer Wasps prefer digging to create their nests in bare soil or areas with thin sparse vegetation, maintaining the health and vigor of the turf can be a very important factor in discouraging their nest building.

Watering your lawn with an inch or two of water can also prevent infestations. Keeping your lawn well-nourished will encourage it to grow strong roots that make it tough for Cicada Killers to burrow through.

Insecticidal Prevention

An effective preventative method is to apply Bifen LP Granules over the area where the cicada killer nests are being dug and add water to them.

The Bifen LP Granules do not yield immediate results but by killing the Cicada Killer Wasps larvae, stop them from returning the following year. Any tunnels that form should be treated with a recommended Insecticide right away.