Cicada Killer Wasp

When we first discovered the hole, I thought it was home to the cute little chimpmunk that hangs out under the skid that is supporting the pile of landscape bricks in our driveway.

Bruce was sure it was too small for a chimpmunk and, after a bit of research, he learned that chimpmunks don't mound up dirt around their holes. But, Cicada Killer Wasps do.

Here's what's going on under our driveway, according to What's That Bug:

Cicada Killer Wasps arrive in July and August. They feed on pollen and nectar, but larval wasps feed on Cicadas. The female Cicada Killer paralyzes a Cicada with her sting and drags it back to her burrow where she will bury it and lay an egg. The developing wasp larva will then feed on the paralyzed Cicada. Being that the Cicada is paralyzed and still alive, it does not harden and dry out so the larval wasp has living fresh meat.

Imagine the horror of being the Cicada!


Here's a video we found on YouTube showing an actual Cicada Killer coming out of her burrow.