Why You May Want To Consider Not Killing Cicada Killer Wasps

Imagine you're enjoying the ambiance of a sunny summer afternoon, when your day is interrupted by the intrusion of a large flying insect reminiscent of an enormous hornet. Thankfully, you can continue to stay calm knowing that this giant flying insect doesn't want to harm you. In fact, the cicada killer wasp has a very different target in mind. Their main prey is, you guessed it, cicadas. And as long as you don't look like a cicada, you should be fine keeping cicada killer wasps company, despite their scary appearance and bold behavior. In fact, it might be time to consider whether it's actually beneficial to kill these wasps, or if they are good bugs to chase pests from your garden.

Many people dislike the cicada killer wasp due to its intimidating size and habit of buzzing around people who come near their nests. There are some instances when it might be recommended to get rid of cicada killer wasps, such as when they disrupt soil from garden beds or you're concerned about their proximity to curious pets. However, the important thing to remember about cicada killers is that they are not aggressive like bees or yellowjackets, unless purposefully harmed. They actually benefit you much more than you may realize.

Though distressing for anyone that dislikes large insects, cicada killers help control cicada populations. In some cases, an overabundance of cicadas can wreak ecological havoc on trees. These wasps also feed on nectar from different flowers, acting as an important pollinator insect for your plants. Cicada killer wasps play a further role in the ecosystem as prey for some birds. In the end, you really shouldn't waste your time and effort to kill them.

Like many other wasps you might find in your yard, cicada killers are too busy doing everyday wasp activities to bother you. Males of the species might buzz over to you if you pass them while working in the yard, but this is basic territorial behavior. Male cicada killer wasps can't actually sting you, because only females have stingers. And when it comes to female wasps, their main activity is stinging and transporting cicadas to their nests. If you suspect that cicada killer wasps have built a nest in your yard, the best thing you can do is ignore it. And if you also happen to be inundated with pesky cicadas? Perhaps you should thank your friends, the cicada killer wasps, for getting rid of them for you.