If yellow jackets worked out, a lot, they would start looking like cicada killers. Cicada killers are huge! It is not uncommon for them to grow to be 3 inches long. If you have never seen one of these wasp behemoths, you are lucky. Unfortunately, you are likely to see them soon. As we head into summer, cicada killers will be all over Connecticut, and if you get unlucky, you may find some settling down in your yard. To find out more about cicada killers, we have everything you need to know today.
What Are Cicada Killers?
Besides being large wasps, what else are cicada killers? To start, they are stinging insects. This might seem scary but, what is crazy is that your chances of being stung by a cicada killer are little to none. Why? Because males are stingerless, and females aren’t aggressive. Occasionally males will act tough and fly around your head threateningly, but this is only to scare you, they cannot cause you any harm. The only chance you have to be stung by a cicada killer is if you were to directly disturb or trap a female and she had direct access to your skin. If stung by a cicada killer, pain, swelling, and redness around the bite zone are common. If you are allergic to stinging insect venom, symptoms of a sting will be considerably worse.
Cicada killers do have a slightly different appearance than other species of wasps. The biggest differences are their size and the reddish-brown color of their bodies and heads. In addition to this, their tails are black with splotches of yellow.
You can probably guess what cicada killers mainly eat. What you might not know is, along with their healthy appetite for cicadas, adult cicada killers feed on flower nectar and plant sap.
Where Do Cicada Killers Live?
Just like many other species of wasps, cicada killers build their nests underground. Often times they will reappropriate burrows dug by other pests such as groundhogs in order to build their homes. To avoid stepping on a cicada killer nests, keep your eye out for holes in the ground surrounded by a hill of dirt. Trust us when we tell you the last thing you need is to step your foot through any wasps nest.
Some Ways You Can Prevent Cicada Killers Around Your Yard
Although cicada killers are not that dangerous, they are still unwelcome guests. To keep cicada killers off your Connecticut property, here are some prevention tips our experts recommend.
- Mow your lawn regularly on the highest setting.
- Before cicada season (right now) add a thick layer of mulch to your flower beds.
- Overwater your lawn as this makes building nests more difficult for cicada killers.
- Keep turf on your property thick and well maintained.
- Put in place prevention for cicadas.
How Big Blue Deals With Cicada Killers
Just because cicada killers are less dangerous than other wasps, this does not mean you should ever try to handle them alone on your property. If these buff, stinging insects are buzzing around your Connecticut yard, the professionals here at Big Blue Bug Solutions have your back. Our team has the proper safety equipment, treatments, and training to safely remove any stinging insect threats from your yard and property. To schedule services for your Connecticut home, give our team a call today. We will send one of our dedicated and friendly pest control technicians your way ASAP with a solution to your pest problems.