Cicada Killer Wasps are not out to get you (unless you're a cicada)! - Lee County Center

Late summer is an incredible time to observe the diverse insect pollinators that call North Carolina home. Unfortunately, homeowners get understandably nervous when they spot large, aggressively colored wasps or hear heavy buzzing near their yards. While wanting to protect your family and pets is natural, these impressive insects are usually just hunting for their next meal—and it isn’t you!

The Lee County Extension Office receives frequent calls from concerned residents this time of year asking if they have spotted "murder hornets" in their lawns. We want to clear the air: what you are seeing in Central North Carolina is not the Northern Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia), but most likely our native Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus).

What is a Cicada Killer?

Cicada killers are solitary, ground-nesting wasps. They prefer to burrow in bare, sandy, well-draining soil located in full sun near trees. Because Lee County has an abundance of dry, sandy soils, our landscapes are ideal habitats for them!

Even if you don't catch a glimpse of the wasp itself, you might spot their nest entrances: a distinct half-inch hole surrounded by a small, horseshoe-shaped mound of excavated dirt. While cicada killers do not form social colonies like yellowjackets, multiple females may independently build burrows in the same sandy patch. Recent land clearing and residential development often push these wasps to find nest sites closer to home lawns and gardens.

The "Fear Factor": Understanding Behavior

Despite their intimidating size (up to 1.5 inches long), cicada killers are surprisingly gentle neighbors.

The males are all show and no sting. The smaller male wasps patrol the nesting area to defend territory and search for mates. They may fly aggressively toward humans or lawnmowers that enter their airspace, but males completely lack a stinger and are physically harmless.

The females are focused hunters. They possess a stinger, but they use it exclusively to paralyze cicadas, which they drag back into underground chambers to feed their developing larvae. A female cicada killer will only sting a human or pet if she is stepped on, squeezed, or directly handled. She doesn’t generally have time to be aggressive either. These wasps are only active for a few weeks before they die off!

cicada killer wasp holding cicada — A cicada killer wasp holds on to a stunned cicada before it goes into its burrow to deposit the cicada to feed its young. Cicada Killer Wasps are really gentle giants doing important work in your garden and local ecosystem by catching cicadas to feed their young. Photo by Amanda Bratcher

How Do They Help Our Ecosystem?

It helps to understand their ecological value, rather than viewing cicada killers as pests. As their name suggests, they are primary predators of cicadas. They protect young trees and woody shrubs from heavy egg-laying damage by keeping cicada populations in check—an essential service when trees are already stressed by late-summer heatwaves and drought.

Cicada Killer vs. Northern Giant Hornet

To help reassure your neighbors, here is how our native cicada killer compares to the invasive Northern Giant Hornet (formerly known as the "Asian Giant Hornet" or "murder hornet," which has never been found in North Carolina).

Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus): Has large, outward-facing black eyes and a mostly dark head. Its abdomen features two to three hooked yellow bands over a dark background.
Northern Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia): Has a broad, solid bright orange-yellow head with smaller eyes set toward the front of the face. Its abdomen features stripes of solid, alternating yellow-orange and black bands all the way down.

Do You Need to Control Them?

Before reaching for pesticide, consider your "tolerance threshold." In most cases, cicada killers cause no structural damage and complete their lifecycle within a few short weeks.

If their burrows are located in a high-traffic patio or sandbox area, you can easily discourage them without chemicals using simple cultural controls. You can keep the area moist with irrigation or a hose. Cicada killers refuse to dig in wet or muddy earth. Keeping the soil damp for a few days will force them to move elsewhere. They also love bare, open areas, so applying a tarp, mulch or compost and overseeding to encourage grass or a groundcover will stop them from being able to burrow.

If you have a high-density infestation in a sensitive area and feel management is necessary, contact the Lee County Extension Office for guidance on safe treatment options.

Get In Touch!

Amanda Bratcher is the horticulture agent with N.C. Cooperative Extension—Lee County Center. Have questions about insect identification, turf care, or soil health? Reach out to our office at 919-775-5624 or visit our website at to submit photos or register for upcoming extension programs!

This article originally appeared in The Sanford Herald. You can read more articles from the Herald on their website.