There have been several questions about a large wasp that has been seen burrowing in the ground around our area. The cicada killer wasp has become common in many areas of Minnesota. It is a large, solitary wasp that is 1 to 1 ½ inches long. The cicada wasp has a black abdomen with yellow bands, reddish-brown thorax with red-brown legs and amber colored wings.

They nest in the ground. You will find them usually in well-drained light soil exposed to full sun. There is only one wasp per burrow, but there may be several burrows within a small area.

The wasps prey on cicadas. Cicadas are stout winged insects that are common during summer in this area. You can hear their loud buzzing in treetops. The wasp uses is their stinger to paralyze the cicada and then carries it back to their next where it is food for their young. Once larvae are full grown, they pupate and remain in the burrow until next year.

Cicada wasps are not dangerous. Females have stingers, but are not aggressive and ignore people. They don’t have the instinct to protect their nest and you can walk among them without worry, but if they feel threatened, it can sting to protect itself.

Tunneling can be unsightly, but it does not kill your lawn. It is not impossible for their activity to undermine patio blocks, but it is not common.

If you have areas of nesting in your lawn, you can consider the option of ignoring them and tolerating them, and just let them run their course. (There is little risk of stinging, and they go away at end of summer.) Another option is to treat the nest. Treatment of the general area is not as effective. Apply an insecticide into each individual nest entrance. Dusts are most effective, but sprays can help decrease the numbers. Be sure the product is labelled for use on turf. Effective active ingredients include permethrin and carbaryl.

The above information was taken from an article by Jeff Hahn, U of Minnesota.