Cicada Killer Wasp Facts: they EAT cicadas | Animal Fact Files

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Who else is here after seeing one of these in their back yard for the first time..

Once when taking a walk with my then girlfriend, one of these things buzzed past my ear, carrying a cicada. Nearly gave me a heart attack; I was so startled.

I saw one fly by me on my porch. Never seen a wasp so large. It kind of startled me.

I used to see them in an open field I used to play baseball at when I was younger. They were abundant where I was and frequently saw them carrying cicadas down to their nests in the ground. Always wondered what they were called, but now it makes sense with their name haha! They are much bigger than people may think!

i worked at a golf course in swpa for 19 years. we had cicada killers that frequented the sand traps on #2 and #4. the grounds crew left them alone because they kept the cicadas in check. i felt bad when i had to rake the traps because i kept covering up their burroughs. i actually saw one attack a cicada one time. it was pretty cool! the wasp landed on the cicada and kept picking it up about 6 inches or so and slamming it into the sand before it finally dragged it under ground. the attack only took a minute or so. it was pretty cool to see.

Yay, the reason I requested this so many times is because I saw one and it kept following me and when I ran it followed me into my porch and hovered around for a bit. Guess it was just "investigating". Thank you so much guys.

These guys are awesome. They almost never sting a human being

I looked this up because there's a bunch by the grass and trees that line my apartment building, they're super big and scary. It's good to know they rarely attack humans unless provoked. I can't imagine them being aggressive, i'd be terrified.

This was super well done, with a great narrating voice! I learned so much, thank you!

I was playing 9 holes of golf, the other day, and one of the fairways was swarming with these wasps. There were burrows everywhere. I knew cicada killers would not attack humans unless backed into a corner, so to speak, and we walked right across the fairway. They were flying all over the place, and even went out of their way to more or less avoid us. They would buzz by us, but that was the extent of their aggressive behavior toward us. My only concern was if one got curious enough and got inside my clothing, but that didn't happen. I wouldn't recommend walking across that fairway, but there really wasn't much else I could do to get to my ball. I will admit having a bit of a fearful reaction to them, since they are formidable insects in size and overall appearance.

my Dad has a about 30-40 living around his pool they don't mess with us at all, once one flew up to my face and just looked at me closely for about 3 seconds then went on its way. i do notice around the time they're around there are a lot less other kinds of bugs around.

Plenty of cicadas for the killers to harvest around my apartment. I didn't know the males die shortly after mating. I see several wasps buzzing around. I only know when they make a hit when the cicada make weird squeal instead their usual droning buzz. Good work.

I hate that everyone is acting like these are murder hornets and saying”why are people freaking out these have been here for years”

I have never seen one carry a cicada but now I know what they do! The hovering thing explained! I have a major vote on the orange throated darter as a video idea!

We had a whole bunch of these friendly fellas around my house. The burrowing in the front yard would annoy my mom, so my dad would take a tennis racket out there and shred them as they hovered.

Yup. Thank you for this. This amazing thing happened right above me one day in my driveway. You could hear the sound of it hitting the cicada and I'm telling you, this thing was much bigger than the cicada by at least an inch. It had it wrapped up Thai fighter style and was stinging it. It was the coolest and strangest thing I'd ever seen a wasp do. I feel like they are meant to be left alone, considering they get rid of cicadas which as far as I know do absolutely nothing for the betterment of the world. But the wasp definitely pollinates so yeah ill just leave them alone.

My mom has been stung by one and I think my grandad as well as uncle everyone I've ever heard who has been stung by one has told me it hurts beyond belief and words cannot describe how bad the pain.

I sprayed one with pesticide and caught it in a jar. 4 days later its still trying to sting

I always run when I see these.