Cicada Killer
July 29, 2006
While wandering around Holland Ponds Park today I came across three cicada killer wasps flying close to each other and regularly landing on some flowers. From what I’ve read, while they are very large, noisy, and somewhat intimidating, they are barely a harmful to people, and their sting (if they happen to sting you — which is rare) won’t hurt you, unless you happen to be allergic to them.
I managed to get that photo above, and these other two: 1 · 2
That one there was probably around 1 1/2″ long… Definitely big enough to make me wonder / worry slightly.
This page, Prof. Chuck Holliday’s Cicada-Killer Page has a bunch more info about them.
Now, to shower and get the DEET off.
Wow – I’ve seen these all over my neighborhood lately. I’ve been really freaked out because they are so big and scary-looking. It’s nice to find out what they are!
I stood around them, within about 2′ for maybe 10 minutes. The article affirmed what I saw… They might fly up to you, but that’s about it. One of the articles even talked about how they are good to show kids in order to teach them things…
Yeah it’s funny, they are the scariest looking bee but also probably the least aggressive.
In The Insect World
They’re part of the thug family.