Cicada Killer Removal and Control

Cicada Killer Removal and Nest Control

At 1 inch to 1-5/8 inch in length, the cicada killer, a type of wasp, can be quite alarming to see as they resemble giant yellow jackets. Though not social insects, they will often nest close to other cicada killers, usually in bare and/or sandy soil. Burrows are first dug into the ground with the excavated soil piled in sizable mounds around the entrance. The cicada killer gets its name from the fact that it hunts and provisions each of its underground burrows with a paralyzed cicada as food for its young.

It is quite impressive and rather rare to witness a cicada killer returning from the hunt, its paralyzed prey clutched firmly in its reddish-brown legs. Cicada killers, in general, will not sting unless handled or stepped on, such as by barefooted children or a curious pet. If a sting does happen, it can be quite painful as the cicada killer's stinger is roughly 1/4 of an inch long. For cicada killer bee control services, call The Bee Man at (724) 935-5444.

Keep Your Yard Free of Bees

Controlling and preventing cicada killers from nesting in your yard can be quite difficult and at times seemingly hopeless if not properly performed. The cicada killer queen is responsible for the burrows, mounds, and underground cavities you're seeing. If you destroy or upset these areas while she is away on a hunt, the cicada killer queen will simply dig a new chamber nearby. More frustrating still is that not all cicada killer burrows or chambers have sizable mounds of soil alerting you of their location. 

This can be either because the particular burrow is on a steep hill, allowing the soil to roll away as it's excavated; in a windy or breezy area that blows the small pieces of soil away as it is piled outside of the underground cavity; or the particular queen herself simply chooses to spread the excavated soil throughout and underneath the surrounding grass, leaving only a small hole when finished. 

Cicada killer removal and control is a meticulous process as each burrow needs to be located and individually treated with a series of solutions. The control is further complicated since this process must happen when the queen responsible for each burrow is home from the hunt. Don't let one of these giant wasps ruin a barefooted summer day or wind up between the wrong paws. Call The Bee Man today for your cicada killer removal and control.