Signup to receive email updates
Recent Posts
Links
Blog Archives
- August 2018 (2)
- July 2018 (7)
- June 2018 (2)
- May 2018 (5)
- April 2018 (4)
- March 2018 (3)
- February 2018 (6)
- January 2018 (1)
- December 2017 (7)
- November 2017 (4)
- October 2017 (3)
- September 2017 (4)
- August 2017 (8)
- July 2017 (4)
- June 2017 (6)
- May 2017 (8)
- April 2017 (5)
- March 2017 (10)
- February 2017 (2)
- January 2017 (9)
- December 2016 (2)
- November 2016 (8)
- October 2016 (8)
- September 2016 (8)
- August 2016 (6)
- July 2016 (9)
- June 2016 (6)
- May 2016 (1)
- April 2016 (7)
- March 2016 (8)
- February 2016 (3)
- January 2016 (4)
- December 2015 (4)
- November 2015 (7)
- October 2015 (8)
- September 2015 (8)
- August 2015 (6)
- July 2015 (5)
- June 2015 (7)
- May 2015 (8)
- April 2015 (6)
- March 2015 (5)
- February 2015 (4)
- January 2015 (8)
- December 2014 (5)
- November 2014 (6)
- October 2014 (7)
- September 2014 (4)
- August 2014 (7)
- July 2014 (13)
- June 2014 (8)
- May 2014 (9)
- April 2014 (6)
- March 2014 (4)
- February 2014 (8)
- January 2014 (5)
- December 2013 (8)
- November 2013 (8)
- October 2013 (9)
- September 2013 (2)
- August 2013 (6)
- June 2013 (4)
- May 2013 (5)
- March 2013 (9)
- February 2013 (6)
- January 2013 (3)
- December 2012 (9)
- November 2012 (7)
- October 2012 (10)
- September 2012 (4)
- August 2012 (9)
- July 2012 (5)
- June 2012 (1)
- May 2012 (6)
- April 2012 (7)
- March 2012 (5)
- February 2012 (1)
452 Total Posts
follow our RSS feed
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Cicada Killers
Cicada Killers (Sphecius speciosus) are out and the inquiries at the Master Gardener run plant clinics have been numerous. Cicada killers are solitary wasps that look like big black hornets with yellow banding on their abdomens appearing in late July and early August. These insects are considered beneficial because they exert a form of biological control on the annual cicada (Tibicen spp.) population. The excavating and burrowing in open dry ground for nest construction can be a nuisance for most gardeners and homeowners. Cicada killers are considered non-aggressive. However, if you invade their territory an male may approach you to investigate and rule out that you are not another male cicada killer. The males are unable to sting. The females can sting but only when handled or disturbed because they lack the instinct to guard their nest like the honey bee.
The singing of the annual cicadas causes the adults to come above ground and out of hibernation. On their search for annual cicadas they will stop and drink nectar and water from your garden. Once the female cicada killer has found and paralyzed an annual cicada she will carry it back to their underground nest. The female places her prize in a nest cell, lay her eggs on it and seal up the cell. The larvae hatch in a few days and begin to feed upon the annual cicada before they form a cocoon to pupate for the winter and early spring.
University of Illinois Extension suggests to plant ground covers and grass to avoid bare spots, put down mulch and use irrigation to deter nesting around your home. It is highly discouraged to kill this beneficial insect unless safety of children and pets are an issue. An application of a carbamate based chemical product to the nest will kill cicada killer adults and their larvae. Please visit Flowers, Fruits and Frass Horticulture blog at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/eb255/ for more garden insect information from the University of Illinois Extension office serving Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties. Special thanks to McLean County Master Gardeners for photo.
Please share this article with your friends!
