Eastern Cicada Killer - Revision history

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	[[File:Cicada-killer-on-flower.jpg \| frame \| left\|[https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128505647 Eastern Cicada Killer on flower<ref name= "flower">Coghlan, Elisa. “Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp (Sphecius Speciosus).” iNaturalist. iNaturalist, July 29, 2022. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128505647..</ref> ]]][[File:Cicada Killer.jpg \| frame \|right \| [https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004 Eastern Cicada Killer carrying cicada<ref name= "Carrying">“Cicada Killer Wasps \| Entomology.” Accessed May 2, 2025. https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004..</ref>]]] [[File:Red Velvet Ant.jpg \| frame \| center \| [https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/red-velvet-ant-or-cow-killer/ Red Velvet Ant]]]		[[File:Cicada-killer-on-flower.jpg \| frame \| left\|[https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128505647 Eastern Cicada Killer on flower<ref name= "flower">Coghlan, Elisa. “Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp (Sphecius Speciosus).” iNaturalist. iNaturalist, July 29, 2022. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128505647..</ref> ]]][[File:Cicada Killer.jpg \| frame \|right \| [https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004 Eastern Cicada Killer carrying cicada<ref name= "Carrying">“Cicada Killer Wasps \| Entomology.” Accessed May 2, 2025. https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004..</ref>]]] [[File:Red Velvet Ant.jpg \| frame \| center \| [https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/red-velvet-ant-or-cow-killer/ Red Velvet Ant]]]






	== References ==		== References ==

Gjmaltbi: /* Habitat and Range */

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Habitat and Range

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	[[File:Eastern-Cicada_Killer-Range.png\|frame\|right\| [https://bugguide.net/node/view/514/data US Range of Eastern Cicada Killer<ref name= "Bug Guide">“Species Sphecius Speciosus - Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” n.d. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://bugguide.net/node/view/514/data..</ref>]]]		[[File:Eastern-Cicada_Killer-Range.png\|frame\|right\| [https://bugguide.net/node/view/514/data US Range of Eastern Cicada Killer<ref name= "Bug Guide">“Species Sphecius Speciosus - Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” n.d. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://bugguide.net/node/view/514/data..</ref>]]]
	Eastern Cicada Killers can be found throughout eastern North America<ref name= "Bug Guide">“Species Sphecius Speciosus - Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” n.d. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://bugguide.net/node/view/514/data..</ref>. They prefer well-drained, loose, [[sand \| sandy]] [[Soil \| soils]] on southward-facing slopes for digging their nesting burrows. These nests may be located in forests or grasslands, as well as in more urban settings such as parks and gardens. The wasp prefers bare [[soil]] that is typically exposed to sunlight for optimal burrow placement. These burrows can be 25 cm to 50 cm deep and are typically 1.5 cm wide. The nests created within may contain multiple cells that serve as nurseries, with females capable of supporting up to 16 larvae in a single nest<ref name= "Gibb">Gibb, Timothy. 2018. “Cicada Killers.” March 2018. https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-254/E-254.html.</ref>.		Eastern Cicada Killers can be found throughout eastern North America<ref name= "Bug Guide">“Species Sphecius Speciosus - Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” n.d. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://bugguide.net/node/view/514/data..</ref>. They prefer well-drained, loose, [[sand \| sandy]] [[Soil \| soils]] on southward-facing slopes for digging their nesting burrows. These nests may be located in forests or grasslands, as well as in more urban settings such as parks and gardens. The wasp prefers bare [[soil]] that is typically exposed to sunlight for optimal burrow placement. These burrows can be 25 cm to 50 cm deep and are typically 1.5 cm wide. The nests created within may contain multiple cells that serve as nurseries, with females capable of supporting up to 16 larvae in a single nest<ref name= "Gibb">Gibb, Timothy. 2018. “Cicada Killers.” March 2018. https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-254/E-254.html.</ref>.
	[[File:Eastern Cicada Killer wasp nest.png \| frame \| center \| [https://sites.tufts.edu/pollinators/tag/cicada-killer/ Cicada Killer Burrow]]]		[[File:Eastern Cicada Killer wasp nest.png \| frame \| center \| [https://sites.tufts.edu/pollinators/tag/cicada-killer/ Cicada Killer Burrow<ref name= "burrow">“Cicada Killer,” August 13, 2020. https://sites.tufts.edu/pollinators/tag/cicada-killer/..</ref>]]]

	== Behavior and Life Cycle ==		== Behavior and Life Cycle ==

Gjmaltbi: /* References */

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References

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	<ref name= "flower">Coghlan, Elisa. “Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp (Sphecius Speciosus).” iNaturalist. iNaturalist, July 29, 2022. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128505647..</ref>		<ref name= "flower">Coghlan, Elisa. “Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp (Sphecius Speciosus).” iNaturalist. iNaturalist, July 29, 2022. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128505647..</ref>
	<ref name= "with cicada">“Cicada Killer Wasps,” August 13, 2024. https://pamlico.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/08/cicada-killer-wasp/..</ref>		<ref name= "with cicada">“Cicada Killer Wasps,” August 13, 2024. https://pamlico.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/08/cicada-killer-wasp/..</ref>
			<ref name= "burrow">“Cicada Killer,” August 13, 2020. https://sites.tufts.edu/pollinators/tag/cicada-killer/..</ref>

Gjmaltbi at 18:44, 2 May 2025

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	== Behavior and Life Cycle ==		== Behavior and Life Cycle ==
	[[File:Cicada-killer-with-insect.jpg \|1000px\| thumb\|right \| [https://pamlico.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/08/cicada-killer-wasp/ Cicada caught by Eastern Cicada Killer]]]		[[File:Cicada-killer-with-insect.jpg \|1000px\| thumb\|right \| [https://pamlico.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/08/cicada-killer-wasp/ Cicada caught by Eastern Cicada Killer<ref name= "with cicada">“Cicada Killer Wasps,” August 13, 2024. https://pamlico.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/08/cicada-killer-wasp/..</ref>]]]
	The Eastern Cicada Killer is a solitary wasp and does not form large hives like bees or hornets. Males can sometimes be seen in groups; however, this is due to their highly territorial nature and competition for space. Males will attempt to court any females within their territory, and if successful, the two will mate. After mating, the female begins to search for a spot to burrow and create a nest. Multiple females can use a single burrow while maintaining their own individual cells within it.		The Eastern Cicada Killer is a solitary wasp and does not form large hives like bees or hornets. Males can sometimes be seen in groups; however, this is due to their highly territorial nature and competition for space. Males will attempt to court any females within their territory, and if successful, the two will mate. After mating, the female begins to search for a spot to burrow and create a nest. Multiple females can use a single burrow while maintaining their own individual cells within it.
	Adult Cicada Killers do not actually eat [[cicadas]]; their main food source is nectar from flowers. These wasps get their name from their parasitic larval stage. Once the nest is complete and prepared for larvae, the female ventures out to find a cicada. Upon finding one, she uses her stinger to paralyze the cicada and then carries it back to her burrow. Females are capable of catching and stinging cicadas midair, which is a remarkable feat considering cicadas are typically much larger than the wasps. The live cicada is stored in one of the nest’s cells, where the female Cicada Killer lays an egg on it before sealing the cell. Female eggs have been observed to sometimes receive two cicadas in a single cell, as they require more energy due to their size<ref name= "Coelho/Joseph">Coelho, Joseph R. 1997. “Sexual Size Dimorphism and Flight Behavior in Cicada Killers, Sphecius Speciosus.” Oikos 79 (2): 371–75. https://doi.org/10.2307/3546021..</ref>.		Adult Cicada Killers do not actually eat [[cicadas]]; their main food source is nectar from flowers. These wasps get their name from their parasitic larval stage. Once the nest is complete and prepared for larvae, the female ventures out to find a cicada. Upon finding one, she uses her stinger to paralyze the cicada and then carries it back to her burrow. Females are capable of catching and stinging cicadas midair, which is a remarkable feat considering cicadas are typically much larger than the wasps. The live cicada is stored in one of the nest’s cells, where the female Cicada Killer lays an egg on it before sealing the cell. Female eggs have been observed to sometimes receive two cicadas in a single cell, as they require more energy due to their size<ref name= "Coelho/Joseph">Coelho, Joseph R. 1997. “Sexual Size Dimorphism and Flight Behavior in Cicada Killers, Sphecius Speciosus.” Oikos 79 (2): 371–75. https://doi.org/10.2307/3546021..</ref>.

Gjmaltbi at 18:44, 2 May 2025

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	<ref name= "Carrying">“Cicada Killer Wasps \| Entomology.” Accessed May 2, 2025. https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004..</ref>		<ref name= "Carrying">“Cicada Killer Wasps \| Entomology.” Accessed May 2, 2025. https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004..</ref>
	<ref name= "flower">Coghlan, Elisa. “Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp (Sphecius Speciosus).” iNaturalist. iNaturalist, July 29, 2022. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128505647..</ref>		<ref name= "flower">Coghlan, Elisa. “Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp (Sphecius Speciosus).” iNaturalist. iNaturalist, July 29, 2022. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128505647..</ref>
			<ref name= "with cicada">“Cicada Killer Wasps,” August 13, 2024. https://pamlico.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/08/cicada-killer-wasp/..</ref>

Gjmaltbi: /* Ecological Role */

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Ecological Role

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	Eastern Cicada Killers play multiple roles within an ecosystem. Firstly, they can act as a natural control on cicada populations in forests. Cicadas can cause damage to deciduous trees when their populations grow too large, as female cicadas lay their eggs in tree branches. Eastern Cicada Killers rely exclusively on cicadas for their reproductive cycle, and their predation helps prevent cicada populations from reaching levels that could harm the larger ecosystem. In addition to population control, Eastern Cicada Killers also act as pollinators, feeding on flower nectar and inadvertently transferring pollen as it sticks to their bodies. They are also a host species for the [[Red Velvet Ant]] <ref name= "MO DEC">Missouri Department of Conservation. n.d. “Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” Missouri Department of Conservation. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-cicada-killer-wasp.</ref>.		Eastern Cicada Killers play multiple roles within an ecosystem. Firstly, they can act as a natural control on cicada populations in forests. Cicadas can cause damage to deciduous trees when their populations grow too large, as female cicadas lay their eggs in tree branches. Eastern Cicada Killers rely exclusively on cicadas for their reproductive cycle, and their predation helps prevent cicada populations from reaching levels that could harm the larger ecosystem. In addition to population control, Eastern Cicada Killers also act as pollinators, feeding on flower nectar and inadvertently transferring pollen as it sticks to their bodies. They are also a host species for the [[Red Velvet Ant]] <ref name= "MO DEC">Missouri Department of Conservation. n.d. “Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” Missouri Department of Conservation. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-cicada-killer-wasp.</ref>.

	[[File:Cicada-killer-on-flower.jpg \| frame \| left\|[https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128505647 Eastern Cicada Killer on flower ]]][[File:Cicada Killer.jpg \| frame \|right \| [https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004 Eastern Cicada Killer carrying cicada<ref name= "Carrying">“Cicada Killer Wasps \| Entomology.” Accessed May 2, 2025. https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004..</ref>]]] [[File:Red Velvet Ant.jpg \| frame \| center \| [https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/red-velvet-ant-or-cow-killer/ Red Velvet Ant]]]		[[File:Cicada-killer-on-flower.jpg \| frame \| left\|[https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128505647 Eastern Cicada Killer on flower<ref name= "flower">Coghlan, Elisa. “Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp (Sphecius Speciosus).” iNaturalist. iNaturalist, July 29, 2022. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128505647..</ref> ]]][[File:Cicada Killer.jpg \| frame \|right \| [https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004 Eastern Cicada Killer carrying cicada<ref name= "Carrying">“Cicada Killer Wasps \| Entomology.” Accessed May 2, 2025. https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004..</ref>]]] [[File:Red Velvet Ant.jpg \| frame \| center \| [https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/red-velvet-ant-or-cow-killer/ Red Velvet Ant]]]

	== References ==		== References ==

Gjmaltbi: /* References */

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References

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	<ref name= "Bug Guide">“Species Sphecius Speciosus - Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” n.d. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://bugguide.net/node/view/514/data..</ref>		<ref name= "Bug Guide">“Species Sphecius Speciosus - Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” n.d. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://bugguide.net/node/view/514/data..</ref>
	<ref name= "Carrying">“Cicada Killer Wasps \| Entomology.” Accessed May 2, 2025. https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004..</ref>		<ref name= "Carrying">“Cicada Killer Wasps \| Entomology.” Accessed May 2, 2025. https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004..</ref>
			<ref name= "flower">Coghlan, Elisa. “Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp (Sphecius Speciosus).” iNaturalist. iNaturalist, July 29, 2022. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128505647..</ref>

Gjmaltbi: /* Ecological Role */

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Ecological Role

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	Eastern Cicada Killers play multiple roles within an ecosystem. Firstly, they can act as a natural control on cicada populations in forests. Cicadas can cause damage to deciduous trees when their populations grow too large, as female cicadas lay their eggs in tree branches. Eastern Cicada Killers rely exclusively on cicadas for their reproductive cycle, and their predation helps prevent cicada populations from reaching levels that could harm the larger ecosystem. In addition to population control, Eastern Cicada Killers also act as pollinators, feeding on flower nectar and inadvertently transferring pollen as it sticks to their bodies. They are also a host species for the [[Red Velvet Ant]] <ref name= "MO DEC">Missouri Department of Conservation. n.d. “Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” Missouri Department of Conservation. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-cicada-killer-wasp.</ref>.		Eastern Cicada Killers play multiple roles within an ecosystem. Firstly, they can act as a natural control on cicada populations in forests. Cicadas can cause damage to deciduous trees when their populations grow too large, as female cicadas lay their eggs in tree branches. Eastern Cicada Killers rely exclusively on cicadas for their reproductive cycle, and their predation helps prevent cicada populations from reaching levels that could harm the larger ecosystem. In addition to population control, Eastern Cicada Killers also act as pollinators, feeding on flower nectar and inadvertently transferring pollen as it sticks to their bodies. They are also a host species for the [[Red Velvet Ant]] <ref name= "MO DEC">Missouri Department of Conservation. n.d. “Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” Missouri Department of Conservation. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-cicada-killer-wasp.</ref>.

	[[File:Cicada-killer-on-flower.jpg \| frame \| left\|[https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128505647 Eastern Cicada Killer on flower ]]][[File:Cicada Killer.jpg \| frame \|right \| [https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004 Eastern Cicada Killer carrying cicada]]] [[File:Red Velvet Ant.jpg \| frame \| center \| [https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/red-velvet-ant-or-cow-killer/ Red Velvet Ant]]]		[[File:Cicada-killer-on-flower.jpg \| frame \| left\|[https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128505647 Eastern Cicada Killer on flower ]]][[File:Cicada Killer.jpg \| frame \|right \| [https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004 Eastern Cicada Killer carrying cicada<ref name= "Carrying">“Cicada Killer Wasps \| Entomology.” Accessed May 2, 2025. https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004..</ref>]]] [[File:Red Velvet Ant.jpg \| frame \| center \| [https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/red-velvet-ant-or-cow-killer/ Red Velvet Ant]]]




	== References ==		== References ==

Gjmaltbi: /* References */

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References

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	<ref name= "Bug Guide">“Species Sphecius Speciosus - Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” n.d. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://bugguide.net/node/view/514/data..</ref>		<ref name= "Bug Guide">“Species Sphecius Speciosus - Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” n.d. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://bugguide.net/node/view/514/data..</ref>
	<ref name= "Carrying">“Cicada Killer Wasps \| Entomology.” Accessed May 2, 2025. https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004..</ref>		<ref name= "Carrying">“Cicada Killer Wasps \| Entomology.” Accessed May 2, 2025. https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004..</ref>
	~~“Cicada Killer Wasps \| Entomology.” Accessed May 2, 2025. https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004.~~

Gjmaltbi: /* References */

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References

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	<ref name= "Holliday">Holliday. 2014. “Biology of Cicada Killer Wasps \| Prof. Chuck Holliday’s Www Page at Lafayette College.” October 22, 2014. http://web.archive.org/web/20141022032916/http://sites.lafayette.edu/hollidac/research/biology-of-cicada-killer-wasps/.</ref>		<ref name= "Holliday">Holliday. 2014. “Biology of Cicada Killer Wasps \| Prof. Chuck Holliday’s Www Page at Lafayette College.” October 22, 2014. http://web.archive.org/web/20141022032916/http://sites.lafayette.edu/hollidac/research/biology-of-cicada-killer-wasps/.</ref>
	<ref name= "Bug Guide">“Species Sphecius Speciosus - Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” n.d. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://bugguide.net/node/view/514/data..</ref>		<ref name= "Bug Guide">“Species Sphecius Speciosus - Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” n.d. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://bugguide.net/node/view/514/data..</ref>
			<ref name= "Carrying">“Cicada Killer Wasps \| Entomology.” Accessed May 2, 2025. https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004..</ref>
			“Cicada Killer Wasps \| Entomology.” Accessed May 2, 2025. https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004.