Cicada killers are much maligned wasps, primarily because of their similarity to Japanese hornets, the so-called “murder hornets” from Asia. In this blog, we look at the differences between the two species.
The Asian Giant hornet, more recently known as the Northern Giant hornet, is a name not many people will be fond of.
In 2019, this wasp was reportedly seen in Washington, United States, and British Colombia and it has created a huge scare in America ever since.
This wasp is also known as the ‘murder hornet’ because of its dangerous nature. More than 50 people have been killed by the sting of this killer wasp.
Unfortunately, people often mistake these hornets as Cicada killers and try to get rid of them instead.
So, what do you need to know about identifying these wasps, and how dangerous can they be? Let us help you find out.
Comparing Murder Hornet vs Cicada Killer
It is common to confuse Cicada Killers and Murder Hornets because of their appearance. Both these species have some similarities if you look at them from a distance.
But they can be recognized by their stripes and color, in some cases, their shape. Here are some things you have to look out for.
Color of their stripes
When you are trying to tell a murder hornet apart from a Cicada killer, look for the stripes on their body. Cicada killers will have uneven yellow stripes, jagged in places.
The Asian giant hornet will have darker stripes that are brown or orange. For these insects, the stripes will be smoother and denser across their abdomen.
Shape of stripes
Stripes of wasps are usually a major indication of what species they are.
In Asian murder hornets, their stripes will be in the form of smooth yellow bands evenly distributed across their body. Moreover, they have orange heads.
The Cicada killers will have yellow stripes that peak across their abdomen in uneven patterns.
Size
Both species of wasps are quite big compared to other cousins of their family. This is one of the biggest reasons why they are confused for each other.
Typically, however, the Asian giant hornet would win the contest if the length was the only parameter. Not for nothing are they called giants because they can grow to be as long as 2 inches.
Cicada killers are also quite big, but usually, they do not exceed 1.5 inches in size.
Habitat & Season
Cicada killers build their nests underground, where there is well-drained soil available. These wasps try to find a place where there are high cicada populations around trees.
Murder hornets, on the other hand, will build nests in abandoned burrows of small animals, mostly near decaying roots of plants and trees.
The murder hornets build their nests and mate at the start of summer in March and April. Cicada killers have their breeding season in the mid-summer months of July to August.
Behavior
Female cicada killers are solitary insects who are extremely alert about their nests. These species do not have a queen or other worker insects. The males do not have a sting, but they can display aggressive behavior.
Murder hornets are social insects that live in large colonies. Their nests consist of workers, drones, and a queen. Each of them has a role to play in their colonies.
Threat Level
Cicada killers are called so because of their food source, which mainly consists of Cicadas.
They use their sting to paralyze their prey, taking them away from the larvae in the nest. They are not a threat to people or other insects unless someone mishandles them.
Murder hornets, on the other hand, are extremely aggressive and dangerous stinging insects. They are very protective of their nests and are sure to leave a painful sting o anything coming close to them.
They have quarter-inch-long stingers that can penetrate through any kind of protective clothing. These insects have also become infamous for decimating the population of honey bees.
Where They Are Found in the US?
Cicada Killers are usually found in areas that have a large number of cicada populations. This is a native wasp of the United States.
These insects can be found in the eastern states, usually east of the Rocky mountains. A genus of this species in the Western states is also referred to as Western Cicada killers.
Murder hornets were not found in the US till as recently as 2019. Two of these hornets were first discovered in Northwest Washington states, which led to a colony in British Colombia. This was destroyed, given the dangerous nature of the hornets.
No further verified sightings have since been reported.
How To Prevent Attacks?
Cicada hornets are usually not that much of a threat to you. These solitary wasps will only get aggressive with you if you try to harm their nests.
You can prevent the growth of their nests by letting the grass grow out and keeping the soil damp.
Murder hornets have not been officially established as a species in the US. It is recommended to notify the sightings at the Washington State Department of Agriculture.
And if you can identify one, try to run away as far as possible from them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will cicada killers sting humans?
Cicada killers are often called the ‘gentle giants of the insect world.’ These are just like common species of solitary wasps, which may appear intimidating but do not harm humans in any way. However, female wasps might attack any creature that tries to harm their nests.
Does Japan have cicada killers?
Cicada killers are usually found in parts of North America and British Colombia. Though there is not much known about these insects in Japan.
The murder hornets are called Japanese Giant Hornets because they are common in Asian countries.
Are cicada killers aggressive?
Cicada killers are not aggressive by nature. These insects keep to themselves and are not likely to harm humans or any other insects except cicadas.
These wasps can become aggressive only when they sense a threat to their nests.
What attracts cicada killers to your yard?
Cicada killers look for areas that have sandy areas and scattered lawns that are easy to burrow.
They usually look for creaks on windows and sidewalks where they can settle in to lay eggs. These insects are also attracted to areas that have a high population of cicadas.
Wrap Up
Whether they are insects hunting cicadas or huge hornets that do not tolerate interference, the best idea is to get away from them if you come across one.
And if you can recognize a murder hornet, do not think one minute before trying to flee for cover. Thank you for reading!
27 Comments. Leave new
Sounds a lot like one of my other favorite insects, the Carpenter Bee. I astonished a couple of my college classmates by sneaking up on a patrolling male outside the Union Grove Gallery at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and capturing him in one shot, with my bare hand. “Won’t it sting you?!” they asked, listening to the bee’s consternated buzzing in my curled fist. “Nope, this one’s a male. No stinger. But if you’re another insect flying through his territory, watch out! He’ll nip your head clean off!”
We were camping in north central Illinois overLabor Day weekend, and my son got stung by one of those “docile” cicada killer wasps. His reddness started about the size of a quarter, then grew to the size of his hand. By the time we got to the E.R. the next day, it ran most of his calf. Yes, we gave him Benedryl and anti itch cream. The E.R. doctor said if it ever happens again, to mix Adolf meat tenderizer into a paste and put it on the stung spot and that should pull the venom out. He is on an antibiotic to be safe in case he did have an allergic reaction.
Dear castleburns,
Without a photo, we wouldn’t be certain that a Cicada Killer is the culprit. While it is possible, we would think the equally large and not to dissimilar looking European Hornet might have been the stinger.
Well I can substantiate a Cicada Killer sting for you, I got stung last night by one as I went out my back door, They hang around my porch light and while bothersome I never pay much attention to them, but last night as I walked out my back door, I guess I had the mis-fortune of having one fly right in my left arm sleeve, I felt a burning sensation on my wrist and thought the fire fell off my cigarette, but then I heard that familiar heavy buzzing and I knew I had been stung, I shook the culprit out as I stepped back into my house only not quick enough as I brought the culprit in the house with me and I followed it to kill it and identify it and it was a Cicada Killer Wasp. Fortunately I do not have a history of allergic reaction to bee and wasp stings. I had a small red mark at the sting site on my wrist and within a few minutes followed by a white area around the sting site and intense pain, within 15 minutes I had an area of redness and swelling about 3 inches wide by 6 inches long on my wrist, the pain was intense unlike I have ever experiences before with other stings by Bees , Wasps or Hornets. An ice cube help some immediate pain relief, I took a Benedryl as an added precaution. it has now been almost 24 hours since the sting the redness and puffiness are still present with an itching sensation, aside from that most all the painful discomfort has subsided, I keep reading its uncommon for them to sting humans I guess I had the misfortune to be one of them. I personally am one who normally can disregard a wasp or bee sting and almost forget the incident in an hour or so, but this Cicada Killer Wasp sting whoa! those suckers are painful, I don’t recommend it.
Thanks for your account, though without a photo of the culprit, we might suspect a different species, like the European Hornet. Vespa crabro, which can be viewed on BugGuide. Like the Cicada Killer, this is a large wasp with yellow markings. We have not heard of Cicada Killers being attracted to lights at night, but we have received information that the European Hornet is attracted to lights. It is also worth noting that Cicada Killers are generally active during the summer, from late June to early August. European Hornets are most visible in the autumn when the colonies have reached their greatest number of inhabitants. We would request that you please take a look at the images of the European Hornet and indicate if that might be the insect that stung you. We would hate to have our readership convict the wrong insect in this case. Thanks in advance.
I wanted to comment on this because I just got out of the ER about an hour ago from being stung by one of these guys.
Here’s my story in short…I was stung by one about 3 or 4 weeks ago. It was dark and I laid my hand on the patio table to pick something up and must have put my hand right on a female. The pain was horrible but didn’t last. I ended up with a swollen hand and some itching but that’s about it.
I told a friend of mine about it who is the resident mountain main and critter expert. He said he had heard that being stung by one was equal to being hit in the face with a hammer. I had to agree with his assessment.
Earlier tonight was standing up while outside and one must have landed on my shorts and when my arm crossed it, it stung. The pain was again horrid, but this time I started showing signs of an allergic reaction within minutes. I had weird white bumps on my face, my lips were swelling, my feet were swelling, red splotches all over, even my voice was changed from the air pipes closing I guess.
I’m okay now I guess…minus the fact that I have to carry an epi pen around forever.
Dear sbower83,
While we sympathize with your ordeal, both of your encounters occurred after dark, and we question the accuracy of your eye witness account. You did not indicate where this incident occurred, but over much of the range of the Cicada Killer, an introduced species, the European Hornet has been increasing in numbers. The European Hornet, Vespa crabro, can easily be mistaken for a Cicada Killer (See BugGuide). Both are large wasps with similar coloration and patterns, but the social European Hornet is much more aggressive. European Hornets will fly at night, unlike the Cicada Killer. You can read this University of Tennessee Extension article about European Hornets and it contains a comparison with the Cicada Killer. It is our opinion that you have falsely accused the Cicada Killer of stinging you.
I live in lower Alabama, and have recently had some Cicada Killers move in next to my sidewalk. While out watering my rose bushes, I see these guys flying around the yard collecting who knows what, but they have never actually tried to sting me. I’ve had one land on my shoulder, briefly, but it never tried to harm me. Do they only attack cicadas or will they attack other flying insects as well?
Adult Cicada Killers feed on nectar and pollen from flowers. The Cicada is the larval food. Larvae cannot fend for themselves. The female Cicada Killer provisions her nest with Cicadas. If Cicadas are not available, she will not substitute any other insect. Only the female Cicada Killer can sting.
I have a lot of these Eastern Cicada Killers that have burrowed in my front yard. I had been trying to plant new grass in the front and now have about 2 dozen burrows all around. What can I do to get them to leave without killing them? They do seem docile. I have captured one. It’s definitely a female as it’s trying to sting the Tupperware container. I don’t want eggs all over my yard and these wasps as I am allergic to stings as well as big holes all over when planting grass.
just saw one in my yard draging a large bug made good time accross yard aug 1 2014 brandon fla wanted to look up to make sure it wasent dangerous
Though Cicada Killers do not attempt to sting people, we would urge people not to try to handle a Cicada Killer as that might result in a sting.
I have about 5 nest holes for these Cicada killers in my yard. I live in lower Michigan and started noticing holes about a week ago (August 13). Today I was lucky enough to see one with it’s kill.
I have an over abundance of Cicada Killers in my yard and they are definitely attracted to the lights on my porch at night. I have killed a total of 5 just because they hover around my coach lights in the evening.
And i promise they are cicada killers. I can always send in a picture if you would like.
That’s weird, because I heard cicadas while I was out cycling this afternoon. I don’t ever remember hearing cicadas this late in the year. I’m in Oklahoma. I suppose there could also be cicadas in Massachusetts.
Does it hop??
Very cool, can’t desigree fith the ID, but I saw a sphinx moth in the image.
That makes sense, but I’m still pretty sure it is a Cicada Killer.
I am invaded by this ferocious looking insect. If their are supposed to be solitary, then they didn’t get the message, they decided to establish a colony under my house.
they scare me to no end, especially reading about how much their sting hurts. What kind of nest do they build, a hanging one, one in the ground? Do I need to call Orkin to get rid of them? My little dog is terrified of them.
I am invaded by this ferocious looking insect. If their are supposed to be solitary, then they didn’t get the message, they decided to establish a colony under my house.
they scare me to no end, especially reading about how much their sting hurts. What kind of nest do they build, a hanging one, one in the ground? Do I need to call Orkin to get rid of them? My little dog is terrified of them.
We do not provide extermination advice.
I also was lucky enough to see one with its prey, but it wasn’t a cicada, it’s a bit late in the season for cicada in Tucson. It was disappearing into a hole with a 1/2 inch a flat green bug with long bent legs like a frog. I’ve been seeing these green bugs all over my yard lately. It was really a great experience seeing it fly in, almost hovering like a helicopter, with a green bug in tow, diving into the hole first, dragging the bug right behind until they disappeared. I had no idea what it was, but I knew I had witnessed enough interesting details to get a positive ID.
We suspect you saw a Great Golden Digger Wasp with its preferred prey, a Katydid, and not a Cicada Killer.
How do you get rid of them?
We do not provide extermination advice.
Want to note because the writer mentioned no nest in sight: these build their nest in a little hole in the ground, with only 2 per nest. Love this site 🙂
I located the nest of European Hornets and hooked up a 20 FT PVC plastic pipe to a shop vacuum and vacuumed them out of their hole for a 24 hour period. They were in the eaves of my home. When the vacuum was full I took the vacuum to an open field several miles away and released them. I know they probably died. But they were after everyone at night as we sat on our patio. I called the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and they advised me to have them exterminated. They wanted $300. to come out. I did it for free. Sorry if I offended anyone. But when you see a 4″ bee on your 4 year old Grand Sons face. Game changes.