THE INSECTLIBRARY FIELD GUIDES

Cicada Killer WaspIdentification, facts & practical guidance

Cicada killers are large solitary wasps in Sphecius. Females provision underground nests with cicadas.

Compiled by the InsectLibrary Team · Updated 2026-09-30 · Editorial policy

Identification and lookalikes

Sphecius speciosus - Cicada Killer(c) Tobias Thrien, some rights reserved (CC BY). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/402747465

Sphecius grandis - Western Cicada Killer

Sphecius convallis - Pacific Cicada-killer WaspContributed by Hartmut Wisch; Additional contributions by Lynette Elliott , Mike Quinn , PaleoJon , bdagley

Look for a large wasp using a soil burrow, often carrying a cicada. Yellow-and-dark markings alone do not distinguish it from hornets or other wasps. Nest type and behavior are valuable clues.

Males, females and stings

Males may patrol nest areas but have no sting. Females can sting, especially if handled. Solitary nesting differs from the defensive colony behavior of social wasps.

What to do next

Observe from a distance and keep bare feet away from active nesting sites. Consider whether the location creates a real conflict before seeking management advice.

Cicada Killer Wasp: species profiles

Explore 4 species profiles covered by this guide, with recorded names and available photos.

Cicada Killer

Sphecius speciosus

Western Cicada Killer

Sphecius grandis

Pacific Cicada-killer Wasp

Sphecius convallis

Caribbean Cicada-killer Wasp

Sphecius hogardii

Sources and further reading

mdc.mo.gov - eastern cicada killer wasphttps://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-cicada-killer-wasp

References support the subject discussed here; they do not certify every imported directory record. Regional sources describe their own locations. Read our source and correction policy.