Cicada Killer Wasp

[CarlHungus]

So I have a couple of these bastards hanging out in front of my house. It doesn't sound like they're aggressive, but they like to chase me and others that come around the front door, which is annoying. What's the best way to get rid of these without getting attacked? Is it better to just call an exterminator?

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

Leave them alone. Really. They burrow into the ground with kind of a right angle, and lay their eggs there. Then they bring food back to their larvae. I know ignoring them is really difficult, but they don't want to hurt you. Before some renovation, they used to be everywhere around a timber wall by the Veenker clubhouse. Had to hold my breath and just walk on by.

I remember backing out of our driveway, looking up and seeing one of these wasps flying and carrying away a katydid. Kind of a "Wow" moment.

http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/info/insects/wasps/cicada-killer-and-other-digger-wasps

https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004

http://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/10-facts-about-cicada-killer-wasps/

 

[CRcyclone6]

I have two perfectly round holes in my backyard about the size of a quarter. I wonder if this is what it is.

 

[IceCyIce]

Tennis racket. Cut them bastards right in half. Go down fighting brother. I think I hit one of these on my motorcycle a few years ago it left a mark about the size of a quarter. by the time I got home it was 1/2 dollar. woke up the next am mark was 6" in diameter, by noon it was 8 -10 inches in diameter. Went to the dr. they gave me a steroid went away in 5-6 days.

 

[DanCyn]

Had a ton of them at a previous residence. A neighbor came over with a gallon milk jug filled with water. Poured it down the hole and stomped them as they crawled out. I watched from inside the house.

 

[CRcyclone6]

Would pouring gasoline down the holes work?

 

[isuska]

Wasp killer straight down the holes then run, it works

 

[Dino]

They look like they come straight out of the ninth circle of hell but they're relatively harmless. Unless you're a cicada.

 

[CtownCyclone]

Growing up, we referred to them as B-52's.


That's all I got. We stayed away from them.

 

[3GenClone]

We have a nest in a broken crack in our driveway. I put the fire pit cover over the top of the hole around this time of night then spray them when they start to stir the next morning. I killed two thinking that was it and then 2 more showed up. I would have left them alone but there is also a solitary blue wasp hanging around the same area and that's been more aggressive towards my kids.

 

[Clone2Dbone]

 

[SerenityNow]

Came expecting to see "kill it with fire" GIFs. Left disappointed.

 

[CyNerd]

Talstar Pro

 

[demoncore1031]

 

[Cycsk]

We pour warm water with ammonia in the holes before dawn.

 

[cloneluke80]

I have seen one hunt and kill a cicada and carry it back to its hole. For that reason I allow them to nest peacefully in my front yard and driveway. They are pretty badass really.

 

[chuckd4735]

They are 100% harmless. Intimidating as all hell, but harmless.

 

[weR138]

I have seen one hunt and kill a cicada and carry it back to its hole. For that reason I allow them to nest peacefully in my front yard and driveway. They are pretty badass really.

This can't be stated enough times. Watching them carry a cicada is an amazing sight.

 

[chuckd4735]

This can't be stated enough times. Watching them carry a cicada is an amazing sight.

Yeah...especially when your mowing the grass and you look up and that sight is flying right towards your face. Like I said, they are harmless, but that doesn't mean I dont run in the house and hide in the closet.

 

[AmesHawk]

Same principal.