Controlling Cicada Killers Around Your New Jersey Home

It is stinging insect season here in New Jersey and we are hearing a lot of complaints about Cicada Killers. Just as the name suggests, cicada killers feed off of cicadas. They are having quite a feast this year in areas hit hard by the 17 year cicadas. Cicada killers are actually a type of a wasp, one that can grow rather large, up to 2 inches in length. Female cicada killers will capture and then paralyze the cicada with venom from their stingers and then bury it underground. She then lays her egg on it and when that egg hatches in a few days it will feed on the cicada and then overwinter in its hard shell underground. 

Cicada killers large size, not to mention their name, makes them intimidating to homeowners. The males are more aggressive and territorial than the females but only the female can sting. Nevertheless, homeowners are uneasy to have them around their property.

Problems tend to arise when cicada killers become abundant on your property. They typically build their nests in dry, sandy soil that gets a lot of sunshine. When this area happens to be in your lawn or in an area with heavy foot traffic, problems arise. If stepped on, cicada killers will deliver a nasty sting. 

When is it necessary to control cicada killers:

Cicada killers can become a problem for a homeowner when they nest in your lawn, near your walkways, flower beds, etc.  And although they are not aggressive, there are many problems that come along with a cicada killer invasion in your yard:

• Cicada killers can accumulate in high numbers in some lawns and gardens and intimidate those walking the grounds.
• After a few nests are established, it can attract other wasps to the area to create their burrows and they will likely return year after year to the same nest locations.
• These wasps will dig up your lawn as they burrow down into the ground to bury their cicadas. 
• Skunks and other animals may dig up your lawn to feed off of the cicadas or the wasp’s larvae.
• There can be a danger to your pets if they try to capture one of these wasps and get stung in the process. 
• There can be a danger to anyone walking barefoot in your yard. They will sting if stepped on. 

Homeowner Control of Cicada Killers

Some homeowners have a tolerance for having a few wasps around their homes. If you notice a few beginning to invade there are some steps you can take to discourage them from taking up residence in your lawn:

1. Keep a well-groomed lawn. Cicada killers prefer areas with little vegetation, therefore, one way to discourage them from making nests in your lawn is to keep it well-groomed.  Full, well-fertilized lawns are not attractive to these wasps. 
2. Keep the soil moist. If you notice a few invading your soil you may want to regularly water the soil.  Cicada killers prefer a more dry, sandy, or clay area to burrow, and keeping the soil moist may deter them. 
3. If you have properly identified the insect as a cicada killer some experts suggest swatting them to kill them then leveling out the soil around their burrow to discourage further activity at the nest. We caution you that these wasps are capable of stinging if provoked and to take great caution if you choose this method.