Cicada Killer Wasp Facts: they EAT cicadas | Animal Fact Files

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Our newer videos have less text on screen and better audio quality. Be sure to check one out! Here's our recommendation: Parasitic Wasp Facts - kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3iQdZ2aib2HZ5I We're also on Patreon! If you enjoy these videos, and are able, please support us so we can continue to grow 👉 www.patreon.com/animalfactfiles

[@jiemelgould8664]

I grow up in NJ we used to call them hornets they used to be at a baseball field holes in the dirt mounds and ground

[@talon24]

Who else is here after seeing one of these in their back yard for the first time..

[@ianhornbuckle9089]

Me!!! I’m 25...

[@Turtl3herm1t]

Thought it was a murder hornet

[@Worldto-uo5im]

One flew into my job the other day I was terrified lol

[@dabawla]

Saw a cicada taken this morning in my back yard. Took em down like a pro. Really cool to see.

[@carolynsullivan2711]

talon24 sadly it’s a dead one now darted at my dog and I stepped on it . Was shocked at its size had to find out what it was . I think this is it .

[@enby_kensei]

Once when taking a walk with my then girlfriend, one of these things buzzed past my ear, carrying a cicada. Nearly gave me a heart attack; I was so startled.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

That would be startling!

[@mattdeangelis5696]

I used to see them in an open field I used to play baseball at when I was younger. They were abundant where I was and frequently saw them carrying cicadas down to their nests in the ground. Always wondered what they were called, but now it makes sense with their name haha! They are much bigger than people may think!

[@timc333]

Actually I agree completely , I have seen not one picture that actually does their size justice , they are very very large creatures , yet very peaceful as well I call them fascinating .

[@TheInnerEliteNetwork]

At a softball game today at a killer carrying it's victim flew under my bleacher into some bush. At first I thought it was a hornet. Now I know what I witnessed.

[@nullnull1781]

I have one that I hunted down when I was 10, stalked to its lair that I eventually found, and sat in front of with a jar for a long time before it came back out and I caught it. I’m 41 now.

[@KennyKaGe23]

Yay, the reason I requested this so many times is because I saw one and it kept following me and when I ran it followed me into my porch and hovered around for a bit. Guess it was just "investigating". Thank you so much guys.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

That's really neat! Were you nervous at all?? Wasps kind of make me a little jumpy, admittedly. ;)

[@KennyKaGe23]

@@AnimalFactFiles yes the first time I ran into the house for 30minutes or so and when I came back out it was still there checking out the plants. I felt assaulted. They took bees to court (reference) I wonder if I can take this behemoth of a wasp to court.

[@1979bobhd]

@@AnimalFactFiles you would have to make a very aggressive approach towards the Cicada Killer and put it in a position that it felt there was no other choice but to sting you. Seriously just go on about your business, they are just checking you out and when their curiosity is satisfied they will leave you alone.

[@MannyWC]

「BLK dolphin」 yes same! Have been chased and stalked by them at the moment in my front and back yard... so...they won’t sting??? That is the moral of the story to me...

[@MannyWC]

Bob Biker I would love to go about my business, but they charge and chase me! Ugh... and like she said, they hover by my front door waiting on me (or so it seems!)

[@hoopsmccann639]

i worked at a golf course in swpa for 19 years. we had cicada killers that frequented the sand traps on #2 and #4. the grounds crew left them alone because they kept the cicadas in check. i felt bad when i had to rake the traps because i kept covering up their burroughs. i actually saw one attack a cicada one time. it was pretty cool! the wasp landed on the cicada and kept picking it up about 6 inches or so and slamming it into the sand before it finally dragged it under ground. the attack only took a minute or so. it was pretty cool to see.

[@grndragon7777777]

I saw one fly by me on my porch. Never seen a wasp so large. It kind of startled me.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

That would startle me, too!

[@philiplongee1149]

Plenty of cicadas for the killers to harvest around my apartment. I didn't know the males die shortly after mating. I see several wasps buzzing around. I only know when they make a hit when the cicada make weird squeal instead their usual droning buzz. Good work.

[@FinancialStorm7]

"If YoU dOn'T bOtHeR tHeM, tHeY wOn'T bOtHeR yOu" is what I'm always told, but these things decide to fly between my ass cheeks and expect me to not attack them. I hate all wasps

[@dannywayne311]

I pissed one off and it didn’t get me, but I smacked my head on a table trying to duck it, luckily this one won’t be back to bother my rescued kitten again 🦇

[@txzombie8282]

Those species that are known to fly/attack the ass cheeks are known as Ass Hornets & are known to attack right betwixt ass cheeks leaving a small sting or hickey sometimes as a parting gift so to speak. Buzz buzz buzz betwixt the ass cheeks goes the Azz Cheek Hornet 🐝 🐝 🐝🐝

[@Flexizy7]

I looked this up because there's a bunch by the grass and trees that line my apartment building, they're super big and scary. It's good to know they rarely attack humans unless provoked. I can't imagine them being aggressive, i'd be terrified.

[@josephsmith590]

They really aren't aggressive, but to use wasp killer on them really doesn't do much, they take so much to bring down.

[@lynnfelgar5801]

@@josephsmith590 Y use ANYTHING against them? Are they bothering you ..are you afraid of the unknown facts pertaining to them? GOOGLE them and educate yourself and others. Like spiders and snakes..NOT ALL ARE BAD..learn to live within your environment in a safe manner..not a deadly one in which you Kill everything you don't like( fir whatever reason) or haven't educated yourself enuff..peace

[@josephsmith590]

@@lynnfelgar5801 because I used to work on a college campus as a work study where people didn't know anything about nature and were incredibly dumb. Hopefully that answers your question lol didn't say i liked having to kill them. Don't think I'm uneducated on them, I didn't have a choice due to their locations and people using that area for traffic.

[@lynnfelgar5801]

@@josephsmith590 still _ NO reason to kill them at all. Period...you just place signs out educating people that they're in the area and they won't attack ppl if NOT harassed by people to start with..You made that choice and hopefully now you're educated enuff yourself to realize killing them wasn't the correct answer to the situation We all learn something new..... daily l hope

[@josephsmith590]

@@lynnfelgar5801 you still aren't listening, I know about them, have for years. And if someone doesn't care or a drunk student stomps on one that sign won't matter

[@pappamolly1457]

I hate that everyone is acting like these are murder hornets and saying”why are people freaking out these have been here for years”

[@tejeo4451]

Pappa Molly you can tell the cicada killer has big red eyes and is yellow and black murder hornets are orange and black

[@BulletProofBreast]

I saw a 2 inch hornet looking thing approach. Didn't have time to analyze the details. Too busy soiling myself

[@bugenthusiast8892]

Ikr.

[@CyanGreyFox]

Blame the media, always making a volcano out of a water fountain

[@Iconic_maya9]

Same

[@AlexisLeffew]

This was super well done, with a great narrating voice! I learned so much, thank you!

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Thank you!

[@kh7955]

These guys are awesome. They almost never sting a human being

[@dondiego124]

my Dad has a about 30-40 living around his pool they don't mess with us at all, once one flew up to my face and just looked at me closely for about 3 seconds then went on its way. i do notice around the time they're around there are a lot less other kinds of bugs around.

[@strings491]

Cicada killers are the only wasps I don't mind

[@ketonoob]

Same. They've been around my parent's pool for years. They don't bother anyone. I consider them friends lol.

[@Zay-lh4om]

@@strings491 and European hornets

[@jw870206]

I was playing 9 holes of golf, the other day, and one of the fairways was swarming with these wasps. There were burrows everywhere. I knew cicada killers would not attack humans unless backed into a corner, so to speak, and we walked right across the fairway. They were flying all over the place, and even went out of their way to more or less avoid us. They would buzz by us, but that was the extent of their aggressive behavior toward us. My only concern was if one got curious enough and got inside my clothing, but that didn't happen. I wouldn't recommend walking across that fairway, but there really wasn't much else I could do to get to my ball. I will admit having a bit of a fearful reaction to them, since they are formidable insects in size and overall appearance.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

No aggression is always good. =) Hope you had a fun day on the course even with the noisy neighbors!

[@shawnhuggett4839]

I sprayed one with pesticide and caught it in a jar. 4 days later its still trying to sting

[@mossutan1275]

It sounds like it's mad.

[@txzombie8282]

Shoot it with some buck shot & destroy it

[@frenchyplaymc6020]

I have never seen one carry a cicada but now I know what they do! The hovering thing explained! I have a major vote on the orange throated darter as a video idea!

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Yeah it is really fascinating what behaviors different animals exhibit! Oh and we have those fish on the list for sure. We'll be sure to let you know when the video goes up, though it can sometimes take awhile.

[@frenchyplaymc6020]

@@AnimalFactFiles no rush! Can't wait to see it and future videos!

[@19AGJ86]

I always run when I see these.

[@intheclear3492]

A J me too

[@tejeo4451]

You don’t have to bruh they not after humans just don’t scare it and you’ll be good

[@rayvon7342]

Fr

[@statikcitten9]

Right. I haven't been able to use my front entrance in like 3 weeks because of these fkrs.

[@statikcitten9]

@@tejeo4451 How do we know what's going to scare it?

[@dustinmj29]

Yup. Thank you for this. This amazing thing happened right above me one day in my driveway. You could hear the sound of it hitting the cicada and I'm telling you, this thing was much bigger than the cicada by at least an inch. It had it wrapped up Thai fighter style and was stinging it. It was the coolest and strangest thing I'd ever seen a wasp do. I feel like they are meant to be left alone, considering they get rid of cicadas which as far as I know do absolutely nothing for the betterment of the world. But the wasp definitely pollinates so yeah ill just leave them alone.

[@jacobburnett7205]

My mom has been stung by one and I think my grandad as well as uncle everyone I've ever heard who has been stung by one has told me it hurts beyond belief and words cannot describe how bad the pain.

[@jacobburnett7205]

@funniredditman whatever it was everyone who was stung by it said I hurt like you know what. I didn't even think Mudd dauber even sting though. But yeah idk for sure what it was

[@7596insano]

Ya know this makes a lot of sense that the females aren’t always successful in bringing the cicadas back to their burrows bc Im always finding cicadas on the ground that are acting as if they’re trying to wake up and acting erratic. Can they recover from the sting?

[@AnimalFactFiles]

I would guess they don't recover. They're actually alive when placed in the burrow to keep them fresh - which I know can be pretty diabolical sounding. My guess would be they would want the cicada to remain as motionless as possible, so the chance of them "coming out of it" would want to be avoided. I tried looking this up for more information but couldn't find anything. If I come across more, I'll be sure to make a note of it!

[@mattevans3871]

They may be beneficial to the environment killing cicadas, but they've ruined my lawn with their digging, therefore I kill them at night while they're in their holes

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Rip your lawn, but likes for correct usage of their and they're.

[@remanjecarter2787]

Can you do Argonauts? I think they're a cool type of octopus and have a pretty shell

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Yes, those guys are really neat. I put them on the list.

[@julianskowron7964]

We had a whole bunch of these friendly fellas around my house. The burrowing in the front yard would annoy my mom, so my dad would take a tennis racket out there and shred them as they hovered.

[@evaarnold9396]

There is a nest of them next to my bedroom window. They are like insects and never sleep at night and come to any bright iight you turn on. I'm getting a bug zapper for my deck.

[@chitinskin9860]

They nest underground. Those aren't cicada killers.

[@calebw140]

There’s a shitload of these things by the job site I’m working at and I love watching them while I’m on my smoke break they’re so uninterested in me but I’m super interested in them

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Oh that's awesome! Fun to watch!

[@o.w.dobbins6927]

She didn’t mention a very important fact:: Only the females are capable of stinging.

[@Mr.WellingtonVonDukeIII]

So I cut lawns commercial and residential in MI I was edging up a residential and saw one of those big wasps grabbing onto a cicada barely able to fly in my direct path of the edger blade I didn't chop her up because I was stunned at her size. At first I thought it was a giant Japanese hornet but the coloration didn't match but by golly she was a big girl though!

[@Mr.WellingtonVonDukeIII]

That burrow! That was the same protrusion at the driveways edge! Oops, I spared her life but F'd up her home.

[@v3nom0us_v1per]

Today I kinda saved a Cicada from one, although it's still paralyzed. I have no clue if the effects on the Cicada are permanent or not. Hopefully not, but I'll keep my eye on it just in case.

[@bodkinrappallum6137]

Glad to know what these are! One of them made my mailbox his lair, and he's a right little a**hole! He chased me all around my yard ruthlessly! I mean seriously, he followed me into the yard, down the street, and almost into my house! He was ON MY TAIL man! Mean thang

[@connieclay3342]

Unfortunately I have had a whole backyard full of these swarming things for 3 years now. My lawn guy refuses to cut my grass when they are swarming. I've called exterminators but they still come back each summer. ☹️

[@mark6302]

I need a few hundred of these guys right now my backyard sounds like a power sub station

[@timc333]

In almost every case with most all bee's , the super aggressive ones are males , most species if not all the male's do not and can not sting , they have a proboscis that resembles a stinger but it is only used for reproduction , yes they can bite but can't sting , so the ones you run away from and then remember all summer were the males clearing their territories , and yes they can and most likely see you as a threat to their females . The more one learns the more fascinating they become . These Cicada killers are actually very very peaceful , just stay calm around them they will not bother you , if they want to check you out let them calmly , if you can't just very calmly and slowly get up and go inside at a slow walk , they will leave you alone . If you see a giant Asian or European hornet , same applies , except , protect your eyes , for real both can and will shoot venom at you , I had that experience with a giant European hornet that got inside my house , I knew to put on sunglasses for the fight otherwise it would have got me . Just a little knowledge and trivia .

[@audreyyvette4810]

Ummm they are EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE in my experience ! We have loads of them in my backyard and if you simply walk outside they will attack you. I’ve gotten stung multiple times just sitting outside. It’s so painful

[@wretchedcunt6588]

no they arent. we used to aggressively swing rackets at them and even clap them in our hands and they still wouldnt sting. ur prolly dealin with something else

[@kevinconleysage2659]

You're probably dealing with paper wasps, those things are assholes and will wait for you to come out of hiding to attack you again.

[@txzombie8282]

Right? They are huge scary looking & intimidating mutha FUdgers! Only investigating me my ass! They chase you if you run! 🏃‍♂️ 🐝 I'll be prepared next time & be waiting for it with a nice little surprise of buck shot for its wasp a$$! You ain't FUdging with me no more Cicada Wasp!!

[@matt940]

One of these was just chasing me in the backyard and it wasnt fun.

[@onmysoul4821]

these things have started showing up in my porch, im on a killing spree

[@aetherslugstar1889]

We have these here in Mississippi. A friend of mine sits their sting hurts like a marvin heckler.

[@Bonklyboi]

Excuse me. Hurts like a WHAT now????

[@indumatipngtuber2790]

r/brandnewsentences

[@txzombie8282]

The FUdge is a Marvin heckler?

[@9unslin9er]

Actually, I find them kind of adorable compared to yellowjackets. I hate Cicadas, so this is a welcome species.

[@thezdbailey]

I'm all for this wasp. I never thought I would be typing this. I'm absolutely terrified of cicadas. I realize I am an absolute pussy for that, but I hate the fact that these insects/machines are born every 17 years or so. It's haunting seeing their husks on the trunks of trees. I'm sure there are people that 100% disagree with me. I would love to hear their opinions.

[@Zay-lh4om]

They don’t come out when the 17 year cicadas are out the 17 year ones come may-June and the cicada killer wasps come July-august the cicada killer wasps only look for summer cicadas

[@thezdbailey]

@@Zay-lh4om I live in Iowa. The furthest west those 17 year cicadas come out for now is Illinois....

[@ianhornbuckle9089]

This is the absolute WORST video to watch with headphones in... I’m in my backyard and thought bugs were flying in my ears and shit

[@xandervapes8763]

I've had cicada killers follow me around my back yard before. They've always been so docile towards my dogs and I. Chances are they were doing one of two things. 1. They were following me around while I look for yellowjackets nests thinking they'll find something to eat. 2. It's just investigating a creature that's 100 times bigger than it, maybe trying to learn about this creature that walks on 2 legs instead of flying. Usually when I'd return to my back porch, it'd just fly away and mind its own business. Honestly cicada killers have no interests in humans aside from simply investigating them. The only time they really strike is when someone or something else makes the first move.

[@hellfire08]

They made a nest right next to the entrance of my job. I killed about 6 big ass ones with wasp spray so far.

[@lpslover206]

These were all over my yard this summer. It was so annoying when i had to water my plants.

[@_P0tat07_]

I’ve swung at these bastards with tennis rackets, golf clubs, fly swatters, etc. and I have never gotten stung by them. Not saying you should attack them, and I’m not saying they won’t attack you back, I’m just sharing my experience.

[@RedForeman]

seen this with my own eyes as I left the park I literally got out of my car to see what the bee had dropped since it was so unusual and it was a big huge cicada … now I have my answers thank you 😊

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Nice sighting!

[@trenaebowers1968]

Wasps and bees and insects of the like aren't my cup of tea We have a nest of carpenter bees in my backyard They are quite huge and scary I don't have the guts to get close to them and try to swat at them We squish them when they're on the ground because the last thing on my bucket list is one of them flying at me

[@dustinmj29]

We have a bunch in Maryland. They don't sting. They don't even have a stinger I'm pretty sure. If anything they will try to ram you if you make them mad. But for real I've had them fly right in my face, check me out then fly off. They won't even attack my dog who tries to eat them. But yeah they will definitely tear up a deck or exposed wood on a house. There is a spray foam that if you spray it into the holes they create it closes off the hole and then kills anything in the hole. Sorry I don't remember what the stuff is but it works. Oh and they keep honey bees and wasps away because they will chase off everything else but yeah the whole burrowing into your wood stuff is not cool and can destroy it. So it sucks either way.

[@rye4074]

I guess I'm to late me and my day just spent 2 hours smacking them with snow shovels 🤣

[@aaliyahcarmony3839]

I fount one on my bunnies cage a couple days ago

[@rakim750]

Those wasps are terrifying and they are bigger than sn inch.

[@Jboogie_19]

I literally found this in my front yard and I don’t even live near them

[@NecoJesus]

Got stung by one of these about 10 years ago. Was a young and very dumb kid and wanted to keep it as a pet, fucked around and managed to get ahold of it, no gloves whatsoever mind you, and after a couple seconds of holding it, it managed to sting me UNDER MY THUMBNAIL. It was absolutely excruciating, almost as bad as breaking my leg. One of the top 5 most painful things I've ever experienced. I will never forget it.

[@couz96797]

Whose here because of coyote Peterson? Sept 19!!

[@Milliekrewarts]

Me

[@mackenzierivercasey6752]

I've hung out with wild deer, wild rabbits on walks, I've ran into skunks, as a kid played with racoons, ran into coyotes....I've held bumble bees and spiders and garden snakes....NONE of them bothered me or tried to hurt me. THE ONLY animal that ever tried to hurt me was wasps! Numerous times and every time I was minding my own business lmfao! They SUCK! We don't have these types in southern Canada much though....just yellow jackets mostly. They sting repeatedly too! I've been stung at least five times in the course of my life. I've gotten used to it lol! It's so bad that I don't even yelp. I just flinch and keep walking away until they leave me alone. The more you swat, the more mean they get lol! You just have to take it.....little buggers lol! I am impressed with the homes they create though....gotta say!

[@VictorFursov]

Thank you for interesting video story. Best wishes!

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Thank you so much!

[@ftniceberg874]

I watched a giant one snatch a cicada out of the sky and fly off while it screamed. Biggest wasp I've ever seen and I did think it was a hornet. Glad to hear they are not aggressive, but still not gonna hang out if I see one around.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

They are HUGE. It's hard to express in video!

[@sirkartier9579]

Bruh it's one right outside my door in my apartment

[@andrewklahold2880]

Do these cicada killers rub kill honey bees and or there queen

[@AnimalFactFiles]

I couldn't find any documentation of this. They're pretty specialized in how they act as predators, so it's probably unlikely. Of course, just because it has not been documented doesn't mean it's impossible.

[@creaturedomes9364]

I love cicada killers I have one in my collection on my channel🕷🦋🐜🐛🦞🦐🦀🦂🦎

[@jasonmac8677]

Most of the time, the sting delivered by the Cicada Killer Wasp isn't all that bad. About as intense as a honey bee sting, a dirt dauber wasp sting, or even much less. If that happens, they're just warning us to let them be. But if they're somehow really pissed off at you, their sting can then be *much* more intense. Very nearly, but not quite as painful as the sting of a Tarantula Hawk wasp. The reason this is possible is because most solitary wasps like these have an interesting ability that most, but not all eusocial wasps, bees, and ants lack. They can deliver a sting *without any venom* if they so choose, as well as vice versa. Another prime example sharing this ability are all the varieties of another solitary wasp, wingless wasps widely known as the Velvet Ant or Cow Killer Ant. In addition, most, if not all wasp species capable of doing this can consciously determine *how much* venom is delivered by their sting each time, enabling them to not only determine sting intensity, but also conserve venom. It's relatively rare for people to get stung by a Cicada Killer wasp unless someone is handling in the wrong way them or intentionally provoking them. There are exceptions to that of course, but in the main, that's their usual behavior towards people. Fascinating creatures.

[@apa7611]

Messed up death for those other bugs!

[@2high4this412]

They can also decide whether they want a male or a female larvae

[@AnimalFactFiles]

That's right! It all has to do with how the eggs are (or aren't) fertilized.

[@TryllHDTv]

Just moved to Minnesota 4 months ago from Seattle. Just found one of these in my window and about had a stroke. Never seen anything quite this big over in Seattle.

[@mikeparkes7922]

Interesting and informative video. Thank you.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@abigailnorma775]

I have sprinted into the road trying to get away from these. And I’d do it again.

[@MuneShadow1]

I have had one of those things land in my hair after getting in a scuffle with a cicada.

[@txzombie8282]

That's frigging *_TERRIFYING!_* I would freaked out like crazy, wet my pants & ran off screaming like a little girl.

[@adamgriffin8009]

These are scary looking but not aggressive at all. I actually don't know what you'd have to do to get one to actually sting you but it would have to be a lot. I treat yards for mosquitoes with a loud backpack sprayer and I've been in yards with hundreds with no stings.

[@domtom010]

I'm here b/c there's a bunch of these making nests around my house. I have an irrational fear of bees/wasps so these are just nightmare fuel for me regardless of their docile temperament. Cicada Wasp: *exists* Me: So you have chosen death...

[@cpktrains]

males don't die, my son put one in a container, and in spring, it woke up, and it mated 4 More times!

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Oh wow! That's impressive!!

[@txzombie8282]

In scientific terms it survived because of its ULTRA HORNY capabilities of wanting/needing to get mo Wasp A$$!

[@RoadNoise29100]

Great video! There will be tons of Cicada actipn in Indiana this year...it's a 2-17 year!!!!

[@gregmiller7001]

ahh this brings back memories cause when I was kid every summer cicada killers would dig their burrows around my house and I would go out with a small shovel wait for them to land and crawl through the grass then assonate them. I even drowned one with a hose once.

[@gregmiller7001]

They don’t sting I use to swing at them with a shovel and they did nothing

[@bradsnapp8437]

@@gregmiller7001 Females sting but the males don't.

[@QEDOma]

This summer while my friends and I were relaxing in the pool we heard this screaming buzzing noise come flying not so gracefully by us! It landed on a railing of the deck so me being kind of a bug fanatic ( I love dragonflies) I got closer. At first I couldn’t figure out what the heck it was except that it was definitely some kind of huge wasp. Then I realized it had a cicada under its belly! I’d never seen anything like it in my 60+ years! I started yelling at my friends to come look thinking it was a “killer wasp” we had heard about on Facebook so they of course didn’t want to get too close. I wish I had my camera ready because I feel like I could have gotten a fantastic picture of it. Can’t wait to see the next one, maybe next summer!

[@AnimalFactFiles]

We love dragonflies, too! That sounds like a really awesome experience and it's really cool you got to share it with your friends (even if they were a bit intimidated). Hopefully you'll see another soon!

[@jasonryan8415]

Have been stung....will verify...hurts....like hell. It didn't target me, kinda....fell on me...left a scar

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Ahh sorry to hear that!

[@chitinskin9860]

May be misidentification, there are thousands of different wasp species in the country so it wouldn't be surprising. Cicada killer stings shouldn't hurt unless you are either allergic, or have pathetic pain tolerance.

[@txzombie8282]

I woulda got me some sweet revenge on that Cicada b¡TcHhh_ for stinging me & then for leaving a scar too by surprising its a$$ with some buck shot!

[@gangstalkingsimulation1319]

I was wondering what these big steroid looking bee was....I see them all the time in PA USA 🇺🇸

[@andrewjones6693]

I read up on these quite a few years ago when I first discovered them. The males do not have the capability to sting and spend most of their time looking for females. I used to sit in the middle of my rather dry yard and the males would perch on my knee or the end of my sneaker as a lookout post. When a female would fly by - off they went after her! I think 2021is a Cicada Brood X major emergence year here in New Jersey, USA, so maybe the Cicada Killers will be out in force too!

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Oh that sounds fun, though I think I would have a difficult time doing it! Good on you! And yes, it's a big brood this year in many areas, so it'll be interesting to see how that unfolds!

[@charliehay1520]

I saw something like this but was around 7 inches long..it had identical markings.. Is it possible for them to even get that big? This was in Palmyra IN around the summer of 2010..

[@frankedgar6694]

Out of curiosity, I moved a tiny people that was close to the entrance of a burrow. She buzzed around for about 5 seconds before I put it back where it belonged. She immediately went to the burrow. I’ve never seen a cicada killer being a cicada to the burrow. I’m curious about how they manage to get their prey onto the hole. It’s way bigger than any cicada killer burrow I’ve ever seen.

[@jilligain3409]

There was one at my hummingbird feeder this afternoon. I tried to get as close as possible w/o disturbing it trying to decide if it was a cicada killer or one of those murder hornets. And it got alil curious about me so it flew around checking me out. I stood there motionless & it finally went back to feeding at the hummingbird feeder. Pretty cool! Alil nerve racking but cool

[@AnimalFactFiles]

That would be quite the experience! Good on you for not freaking out (50/50 shot I would have 😅😅)

[@JulianDale94]

These guys are some of the most scary yet harmless animals out there. Even if you swat at them, they're really not interested in you. Just like your ex

[@jbest293]

These live in my backyard 😐☹️

[@LiftUpYourEyes]

I got a job in concrete construction, i see these things on my worksites a lot. They are big and scary but they never fly to close to people unless youre standing ontop of their hole they spent their entire life diging. They occasionally fly into me when they are carying around their cicada kills. They're flying sound is very quiet surprisingly, so they dont scare the shit out of people while we're working.

[@ksol77]

During my walk, I saw a SWARM of CICADA KILLERS when I passed by this decent neighborhood, and THEY WELCOMED ME INTO THEIR TERRITORY. :) :)

[@dcdread]

Didn't speak about the burrows enough, they like sand in ground. 1 or 2 you good, a few 100 you don't want in back yard. You digging a hole is an attack... Sting hurts for about 2 hours. And they will bite while stinging... Look for giant ant holes that are sideways😂😭🤣

[@John1908-vo1iv]

I honestly was worried having them in my front yard, but they are so docile and won't bother me even if I am close to their nests. Please don't harm them. They are excellent pollinators and mind their own business.

[@fishycomics]

I got one in the back, the ants are enjoying it right now

[@aquabreeze7612]

I saw one on my way home from work once. I knew they weren’t agressive but my ape brain still went “NOPE” and I booked it in the other direction

[@jeromedavid7944]

So like they are really hungry for 16 yrs and then bam its an all you can eat buffet just like this year! There is a certain amount of cicadas that actually hatch every year evidently or these little yellow jackets would have to have another nickname I suppose.

[@trenaebowers1968]

There are cicada wasps in Florida How long do they live there since it's always warm and there's always cicadas there

[@happyhome41]

Great video. Obviously beneficial, and we have an over abundance of cicada in northern Virginia - how to encourage the wasps to take up residence near us ? 🤷‍♂

[@richarddavidmoxley]

They do look intimidating but they are the most Docile of Wasp Species and are only interested in Cicadas not Humans so folks not a Giant Japanese Hornet as they have been mistaken for 😊

[@zachchamblee4094]

Do they sting, I'm assuming so, I had 2 cicadas on my green broom bristles so they don't use sight to find them I can assure you. It has to be smell

[@shawnkincheloesr5192]

Wow ! And those things can get to be as big as my thumb 😮 and as a kid, I often wondered why I would see them take off through the air with a cicada in it’s grasp 😳

[@joshrobinson2409]

I'm not really afraid of insects or wasps I even let yellow jackets land on me if they are curious they dont sting unless provoked so I just let them hang around to do their thing and they can fly off when ever they are ready

[@mohjozojo6242]

A couple stung my dog last week my dog hasn’t been the same since won’t even go to the area where she was stung and won’t leave my side if I take there

[@injunsun]

Why would I be surprised? Tons of wasps lay eggs in their prey. Most of us know know anything about wasps know that.

[@NatureWitch]

HEY I HAVE A QUESTION! I don't know if cicada killers are in Michigan but one time I was at a park and I like to collect dead bugs (I know that sounds very weird) and I picked up these cicadas that look like they were dead and. Put them in empty pill bottles until I got home, But when I got home a couple days later. Because I was spending the weekend at my boyfriend's And we would go to the park. But when I got home when I opened up the pill bottles there was half eaten cicadas and some sort of worm looking thing in there there are multiple and each pill bottle I had about six of them and five out of the six had these maggot-like creatures in them. I have no idea what they work so they didn't look like true maggots. I got rid of them. And kept a eye on the last intact one which didn't have the same problem. Does anyone know what I encountered? BTW the pill bottle I had had a hold in the top Incase I accidentally put a live bug in which then I'd release. So that's probably why the creatures in the bottle that were inside the cicada didn't suffocate. Cicada bodies looked intact When I found them.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Sounds like potentially some other parasitoid wasp - we have a video on them here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3iQdZ2aib2HZ5I Or maybe a horsehair worm? Video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGmzfpigaJ6Ab9U Or perhaps something else entirely, it can be tough to figure these things out over text alone. You could try this resource: www.insectidentification.org/ Best of luck!

[@RonHudgens-ck5qe]

Seen thousands am 69 . I remember them .if your scared or worried about it. Don't they have about a72 hour life span

[@kushsmoke4915]

Yoo this is crazy I was in Charlotte and I see this wasp and I seen it kill that big bug looking thing and it dragged it into a dirt hole I was like wtf 😳😳😳😳😳lol

[@FriendlyKat]

So they are parasitic wasps like the Mud Dauber!? Really?! I found a curled up dead female Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp (I saw the stinger so I know it was a female now!) on my outdoor table back in late August. I had never seen a wasp so big and used an App to identify it! Never seen any around my house before though! Fascinating stuff!

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Oh wow! Nice find! They are QUITE large. I feel like it's hard to convey without someone actually seeing it in person

[@adrielcontreras7917]

I would like to know how big they were millions of years ago.

[@BrassBashers]

"Pretty docile.." Umm from experience they love to make nests in golf holes.. And from friends account when they sting a person it feels like a golf ball hit you and hurts all day! I worked landscaping at a golf course and changed holes regularly. Black widows like to make nests underneath the aluminum golf cups as well. Maybe the cicada killers eat them?? Idk

[@jorleonelescott755]

The ones in my yard are aggressive. I cannot even have a smoke outside as they would swing by multiple times even if I just stand still. I have to walk a quarter mile from my house to have a smoke. Super annoying