One look at one of these huge wasps buzzing around, your yard, and it’s only natural to ask, “Are cicada killers dangerous?” Fortunately, these wasps are mild-mannered. But here’s what you’ll want to know.
Cicada Killer Wasps Basics
Cicada killers emerge from the ground each summer and often build their underground burrows along the edges of sidewalks, patios, gardens, and lawns. Each cicada killer lives alone in its burrow. They prefer to dig their burrows in sunny spots with loose well-drained soil.
They are large wasps that can reach up to two inches in length with a rusty-colored head, body, and wings, a black abdomen with yellow stripes, and orange legs.
Are Cicada Killers Dangerous To Humans?
While they may be formidable-looking, they are in fact passive. Unlike hornets and honey bees, cicada killers don’t have nest-guarding instincts. So if you leave them alone, they will leave you alone. Although males may buzz very closely to anyone or anything that enters into their territory, it’s all a display. Or they may simply be checking you out.
Male cicada killer wasps do not have stingers. And while they may act like it, they can’t sting and are not dangerous in any way whatsoever. Females do have a stinger, which is used to inject captured cicadas with venom in order to paralyze them so that they can provide food for their young. Although they can sting, female cicada killers are considered difficult to provoke into stinging.
Females usually avoid humans and are too busy looking for cicadas to be concerned with what any nearby humans are during. In order to get stung by a cicada killer, you’d have to physically pick up a female and roughly handle it in a way that would make it feel as if it was being attacked.
You also would be likely to be stung if you stepped on one, so always be sure to wear the appropriate footwear near any cicada killer nests. Luckily their sting is considered to be very mild in comparison to other stinging insects and even comparable to a pinprick. And unless you happen to be allergic to the venom from the sting (in which cause you should seek medical attention) there should be no issue.
Are Cicada Killers Dangerous To Pets?
Similar to humans, pets are of no interest to cicada killers. However if a cat or dog was to catch one, and it turned out to be a female they most likely would be stung in their mouth. While not a pleasant experience for any pet, the majority of the time, this would simply teach the dog or cat to stay away from any cicada killer wasps in the future.
Though pets can be allergic to the venom from the sting and if you suspect that your pet has been stung and is having an allergic reaction it should be brought to your veterinarian immediately.
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