Giant Ground Hornets | What is digging up my lawn?
Solitary Wasp Control | Insect IQ offers Solitary Wasp, Cicada Killer Control in the Tampa Bay Area
Cicada killers, or giant ground hornets, are among the largest wasps in Florida (up to 40 mm in length). They are distinctive insects since the males are territorial and will butt or wrestle with intruders including other males.
The Wasp is a large wasp that eats cicadas as food for its young. This wasp can dig a 4-foot burrow in the ground with several branches and cells in it. One to four cicadas are placed in each cell for its larvae to eat.
The female paralyzes the host (cicada) by stinging it, then carries the cicada by dragging or flying to the nest. One egg is laid on the last cicada in each nest. Cicada killers are most often considered beneficial insects because they destroy plant-feeding cicadas. They also rarely sting except when the females are handled.
Nevertheless, in the case that elderly persons or the young are present in the breeding areas, one may need to discourage their presence. This can be done by eliminating or reducing the breeding area, which ordinarily is exposed, sandy soil. The area may be mulched or covered with grass. Labeled insecticides can be applied and used to kill the wasps.
For more information see this site:
http://www.entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/cicada_killers.htm
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