On CK wasp stings…………..
Hi Fellows;
I live in Central Florida in a small town called Mims. As long as I have lived here, the CKs have been around every summer. Scared the devil out of me until I learned what they are. Some time ago, I found a web site run by a lady who studies CKs for a living. In one of her discussions, she described how she actually induced a female CK to sting her! She showed a picture of the sting site afterwards, and according to her description, it did essentially nothing to her. Her assertion is that CK venom is so specific to cicadas that it does not cause pain in animals such as humans. Has anyone ever heard of this?
Dave Mohr
Mims, Florida
Hi Dave,
We wish you had provided us with a link to the website.
Daniel,
Try this…………… http://ww2.lafayette.edu/ ~hollidac/CKcontrol2.html
Dave Mohr
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Posted 14 July 2007
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Posted 13 July 2007
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CK Bug Love
WTB:
Here’s a compromising shot of two Cicada Killers from July 2005 that you might enjoy for your Bug Love page (which I think is great – I had no idea there were so many bug paparazzi.
Andrew from Mercer County, NJ.
Hi Andrew,
We received another image of mating Cicada Killers today, but that couple was shy, hiding behind
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Posted 08 July 2007
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question about types of wasp
Bugman,
I have a question about a type of wasp that lives under ground. I live in Illinois, about 50 miles south of Chicago, and I’ve started finding a extremely large type of wasp. The length of the smallest is about 1 1/2″ and the largest is about 3 inches in length. The roundness of the bodies range from 1/4″ to about 3/8″ and they are very aggressive and territorial. I looked at the wasp and hornets on your sight and sorry to say nothing as big as what I have encountered. I have attached a pic of a small one that I was able to catch, its curled up, but you can see the markings and size. Please let me know if you have any info on this guy, or any questions, I would appreciate it very much. Thank you very much in advance,
Rodney
Hi Rodney,
Cicada Killer are large and territorial, but they very very rarely sting humans. Only the females sting, and they are much more interested in paralyzing Cicadas and dragging them to underground burrows where they provide food for larval wasps. Males seem more aggressive as they court females, but they cannot sting. Adult wasps feed on nectar. There is really no need to try to eliminate them.
Cicada Killer
Hope you can use these pictures. I noticed something strange with this CK when a butterfly came around it would chase it off. Have you ever heard of this. Thanks,
Sharon
Hi Sharon,
Cicada Killers can be very territorial and defensive when males are seeking to woo a mate.
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Posted 06 July 2007
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A Large Wasp or Hornet
Hi,
This bug took three direct hits of ortho wasp killer before it went down. I’m curious what type of bug this is. The three interrupted bands on it are a yellow color. Thanks,
John Walker
Hi John,
We were so horrified at the Unnecessary Carnage of this poor Cicada Killer, that we couldn’t bring ourselves to answer your email for several days.
Our 1st CK
Dear Bug Man,
The Cicada Killer in the attached photo, thanks to your site, will continue to “guard” our back step this summer (in the MD suburbs of DC). It’s a relief to know the family & especially our dog, will be able to frequently pass by him w/o being harmed. We used to have an underground yellow jacket nest in this same area. Do CKs ever move into abanadoned nests? I believe this particular CK is a male b/c he frequently rubs/bounces his tail on the step & door mat. Is this behavior to mark his turf, attract a mate or both? Even if you’re unable to responsd, THANK YOU! Your site provides a wonderful & very interesting service. Jean
Hi Jean,
According to Eric Eaton, the behavior you describe is of a male Cicada Killer marking his territory and trying to attract a mate. Cicada Killers dig tunnels with cells for individual paralyzed Cicadas and a single young Cicada Killer. Yellow Jackets are social wasps and their abandoned nests will not suit a Cicada Killer. We have decided to make the Cicada Killer the Bug of the Month for July 2007, so your photo will remain at the top of our homepage until August.
Help
Hey BugMan!
For a week, this bug has visited our patio in the same spot at the same time each morning. (S)he sits on the edge of the concrete facing the grass/dirt while her bottom pulses up and down on the concrete. What is it? Why does it hang out here? Is there a nest? Is (s)he grocery shopping?
Holly
Buford , GA
Hi Holly,
We are very thrilled to get your photo, the first Cicada Killer of the season. These large solitary wasps dig burrows that they provision with paralyzed Cicadas that serve as food for the larvae. The adults eat nectar and pollen.
Update: (06/14/2007) Eric Eaton Wrote
Daniel: The lovely image of the cicada killer is a male of the species. Males are very territorial, and he is likely “shopping” for a female that may already have a burrow started nearby, or will be emerging from one shortly. Males behave aggressively, but do not have stingers. The person who submitted the image should have fun watching these wasps this summer. Females can sting of course, but unless you grab one or accidentally step on one in bare feet, you won’t get stung.
Eric
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Posted 12 June 2007
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Cicada Wasp Killer
Hi!
My name is Lorraine Cook. My backyard in Philadelphia, PA. has been invaded by CK. I contacted Professor Chuck Holliday of Lafayette College (Easton, PA) who confirmed the identity of the wasps. I’m currently collecting paralyzed cicadas for Professor Holliday to aid in his research. Sincerely,
Lorraine Cook
Hi Lorraine,
Your photo appeals to our questionable sense of humor. We just hope the Cicada Killer did not mistake the lovely young lady pictured on the box for a Cicada.
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Posted 17 August 2006
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Cicada Killer & Burrow!
Wow!! Thanks to your site, I knew just what this creature was when I spotted her! I stepped out of my home to photograph the sunrise but was distracted by a LOUD buzz behind me. I saw the cicada killer crawling around this large hole which I sort of thought a small mammal was living in. Now I know!! And I’m not that surprised that we have one taking up residence in our yard—the cicadas have been annoyingly loud the past couple weeks. Arg!
Lindsey Wilson
Houston, TX
Hi Lindsey,
We are getting so many wonderful Cicada Killer photos, but we think we may need to stop posting them after yours.
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Posted 14 August 2006
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Cicada Killer Photos
WTB,
Don’t need an ID; just thought you might enjoy these shots of a female Cicada Killer I took today in Chicago. I look forward to seeing them every summer. I spent an hour kneeling over the female as she worked, with others circling around me like fighter planes and they never laid a stinger on me. If you have them near you, there is no need to attack them with pesticide. They are not aggressively defensive like yellow jackets and paper wasps. Other pictures of her digging the burrow can be found at my web site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydalus/
Cory
My My Cory,
That action photo of the Cicada Killer flying with extremely shallow depth of field is awesome. Thanks for sending your letter.
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Posted 13 August 2006
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Cicada Killer Sting
The cicada killer in my area are non aggressive toward me and we tolerate their presence on our patio area. I have never felt intimidated by their presence and I do wonder if anyone has reported as actually being stung by a cicada killer. I have been stung by honey bees, bumblebees, paper wasps, yellow jackets, and sweat bees. Cicada killers are the least of my worries.
Larry
Hi Larry,
Thanks for your testamony.
Stingless Cicada Killers
(07/29/2006) cicada wasps Just a comment-when my son was two years old and toddling around our patio, I witnessed him stepping on the hugest wasp I had ever seen. I later did some research and found the name of this huge “beast”: it was the cicada KILLER wasp. The ironic thing was it proved harmless to my son. Could easily have stung his tender little foot but did not. We have seen the same wasps in our yard for the last 15 years and have never felt threatened by them. They do their thing, we do ours, and we live side by side peacefully. I sill always have a soft spot for this species since the day that one wasp “chose” to not hurt my baby. Kelly
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Posted 24 July 2006
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