The European wasp or giant hornet ( Vespa crabro), introduced from Europe, is also present in Missouri.Finally, the eastern stizus provisions its nests with katydids, not cicadas. Also, the color patterns on two of the thorax segments are different: in the eastern stizus, the scutellum and postscutellum plates (compare pictures of the thorax, and you'll see which plates these are) have a distinct pattern of yellow marks, while those plates on the cicada-killer have a plainer, rust-colored patch. But look closely at the yellow markings: in the eastern stizus, the yellow abdominal marks are smooth-edged, while on the cicada-killer, ornate black hook-shaped edges intrude into the yellow. It looks almost exactly like an eastern cicada-killer wasp. The most similar common Missouri wasp is the eastern stizus ( Stizus brevipennis).Similar species: Missouri has a number of large wasps that can be confusing until you look carefully at their markings. Females (unless molested) reserve their powerful sting for the cicadas they hunt. Males have a pointy projection on their abdomen tip that amounts to a false stinger, and they may poke it against their enemies in defense, but they are completely incapable of stinging. Male cicada killers may clash with other insects, crashing into them bodily, but with people they usually just fly around and inspect us.įemales also cruise around, looking for good places to dig tunnels and searching around trees and shrubs for cicadas. The males' energetic hovering can be intimidating. Males typically defend territories by simply flying around the nests of one of more females. In addition to their size and coloration, their behavior identifies them. It is an exceptionally large species, with rusty clear wings and the black and yellow markings common of wasps. But it is not aggressive to people and is virtually harmless, unless handled roughly. This is an instance when control may be needed.The eastern cicada-killer wasp may be the scariest-looking wasp in our state. Occasionally, it can result in some damage, such destabilizing a brick patio laid on sand. Wasps remain in their burrows at night so encounters can be avoided by managing the activity of the pet.įemale cicada killers dig extensive tunnels where their young will be raised, displacing several pounds of soil in the process. Wasp flight begins in early morning and can continue until dusk. If that is suspected, the animal should be taken to a veterinarian immediately. Some may have a severe reaction to the venom, especially if stung in the mouth. Those that pick females probably will be stung, remember it, and associate the experience with the buzzing sound and warning colors. Will cicada killers harm pets? Some dogs and cats may catch cicada killers but usually only once. That can be easy to forget when staring down a big wasp. They may hover and challenge trespassers but are harmless. They will approach anything that enters “their area”, including walkers, people mowing or using weed-eaters, or riding tractors. When attacked, females will use their stinger to protect themselves. The buzzing noise that the wasps make and the warning colors on their wings and bodies intimidate and discourage predators that see them as a large meal. You can walk through areas where they are active without attracting attention. However, they are not aggressive and do not have nest-guarding instinct of honey bees and hornets. Are cicada killers dangerous? Females have significant stingers which they plunge into cicadas to inject venom that paralyzes them.
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