Q: I have a B-52 bomber-type bee that is circling the expansion joints in the concrete around my pool. I have never killed a bee or many insects for that matter but I have killed four of these so far. I know 97% of all insects are really good. I just need to know about these bad boys.
A: You have a cicada killer wasp. The cicada killer wasp (or digger wasp) is about l 1/2 inches long and has yellow markings on its body. The wasp digs burrows in the ground and mounds the soil at the entrance. The female paralyzes grubs or cicadas by stinging them, places them in the burrow and lays an egg on it. When the egg hatches, the larva feeds on the insect.
Cicada killer wasps usually appear in early July when adult cicadas are abundant. The males hover around the underground nest and buzz you, but like all male insects, they can not sting. The female is usually off in the trees looking for a cicada to drag to the nest, where she will bury it along with one of her eggs.
Since the cicada killer wasp is generally considered harmless, I urge you to leave the nest alone. However, if you must eradicate it, a short squirt with Wasp & Hornet aerosol spray will do the trick. Cover the soil entrance with a rock or a brick to make sure the nest is completely fumigated.
Here is a great link that explains all about the wasp’s life cycle:
Cicada Killer Wasp
