Is this a cicada killer

This wasp was guarding a hole in our front steps..is it a cicada killer?

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• cicada
• killer
• wasp

[jamesbryant80]

Yes, it is a Cicada Killer, also known as north america's largest hornet. And yes, they sting. I have been stung once. Not at all pleasant.

[gminks]

How did it sting you? This one (in the video) would come up and buzz around us...but I think it would figure out we weren't a threat and would go back to guarding the hole.

[punky4831]

there are ground wasps. that are aggressive, and mean. they build their hives underground. but cicada killers only dig a hole, to insert a cicada, then lay its eggs on top of it in the hole. probably for the young hatch lings to eat on it.

[punky4831]

if it is a cicada killer wasp, it is a baby. because they usually are bigger then that. and only the females sting. they have a hard time biting human skin.

[kylewp]

I recommend bee killer spray can. Should be at the local hardware store. Just spray it in the hole and it foams up good and you won't have no bees.

[EricLFarrell]

they won't attack you unless you pose a threat to them. They'll let you walk right past them, but they're very territorial and will check you out really well and try to determine your motive. They'll even confront you face on, but if you move kinda slowly like "hey, I don't want any trouble" they'll eventually move aside and let you pass. But if you've been trying to kill them, they might not trust you anymore by now. (We got them in our front yard every year. they're 2 inches!)

[brianl890]

These are Cicada Killer Wasps and are quite harmless. The female can sting but she will not fly at you and sting you. Only if she is mishandled or tread upon. These are harmless and very interesting wasps to observe. Enjoy them.

[mattrocks76]

umm id say no cincadas are usally about half an inch bigger than these ive done some research on them because there always flying around in mi backyard but none of the research is consistent but i dont think its a cincada killer

[Bashermo07]

Ah thanks much for this info! I've been struggling of the reasons why some say Cicada Killer stings didn't hurt much for some, while others it did indeed I believe was very terrible, even though the poeple didn't have any allergies to stings.

Well I'm going to have to be more careful around gardening indeed, lol!

At the age of 10 1 actually used to try to catch Red Wasp, got stung right away and never tried again. Red is a perfect color for them, hehe!

[skirts365]

Any hornet variety is going to be quicker to sting. Because social wasps are more aggressive than solitary wasps. The tarantula hawk is also solitary and like cicada killer, extremely large. It too is not so quick to sting as any hornet. But if either of these solitary wasps sting, just hope it's immediately after their "load" was pumped into its prey. That explains why some say the cicada killer doesn't hurt much. They got hit just after it depleted its venom. Red wasps are VERY mean.

[Bashermo07]

Ah shucks, I forgot to mention in my last post I do like how they take care of pest insects that eat at my plants. So being a gardener I welcome them lol!

[Bashermo07]

To skirts365 - I garden next to a female's nest with a male one buzzing around me and they ignore to the point my mom could almost pick one up. The males have no stinger, but the females do.

But there's one called a European Hornet that poeple unfortunately mistake these Wasp for. These Hornets are very much aggressive and will give chase on site. They've got a crazy painful stinger exactly like you describe.