I have noticed several of these BIG wasps flying around here (North Central Texas) lately and I finally got one to draw! After I caught this one, I saw another one flying around with a big cicada in it’s grasp. She (or he) landed in a tree and proceeded to stun or kill the cicada before flying off again. (Or, maybe she was just getting a better grip on her cargo, I don’t know.)
The Cicada Killer is a big, heavy bodied wasp (the body is 1.125” long or 2.9 cm) and she makes quite an impression when she is flying around your head. I assume that she packs one heck of a sting but thankfully, I don’t have any first-hand information about that to share. (Not yet anyway.)
This wasp excavates her nest in the ground. You will see a mound of soil left by an entrance hole which is about .375” or 1 cm wide.
This was just a quick little sketch for now... a tighter sketch is planned for the “bug journal” soon. She really is a beautiful insect.
That sounds scary. Are you afraid of getting stung?
ReplyDeleteYes! I try to be very careful when dealing with wasps and bees. For some reason, this one was moving pretty slow on the day I found her.
DeleteI have never heard of this. Is it endemic to Texas? Scary looking guy.
ReplyDeleteTeri, I wasn't sure about the answer so I looked around and found out that they are apparently everywhere east of the Rocky Mountains. I guess the cicadas in the west are safe from these guys.
DeleteThanks. That would make them in Wisconsin but I've never seen them. Have to keep a look out.
DeleteVery beautiful, Laura! We have them around here too...obviously, according to your research, but I don't see them often.
ReplyDelete