Species Sphecius speciosus - Eastern Cicada Killer

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Range · Habitat · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Cicada killer - Sphecius speciosus - male

Cicada killers - Sphecius speciosus - male - female

firepit dragon - Sphecius speciosus - female

Eastern Cicada Killer - Sphecius speciosus

2 Bugs together- What are they? - Sphecius speciosus - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)

No Taxon (Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and Stinging Wasps)

No Taxon (Apoid Wasps (Apoidea)- traditional Sphecidae)

Family Crabronidae

Subfamily Bembicinae

Tribe Bembicini (Sand Wasps)

Subtribe Spheciina

Genus Sphecius (Cicada Killers)

Species speciosus (Eastern Cicada Killer)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Sphecius speciosus (Drury 1773)

Range

NA east of the Rocky Mountains and south into Mexico

Habitat

forest edges, gardens, waste places; nests in the ground(1)

Food

Adults eat very little, nectar from flowers. Larvae eat cicadas

Life Cycle

In 2-3 days after egg laying, a larva will hatch and begin eating the cicada, leaving an outer shell only within about two weeks; the larva will then spin a cocoon and hibernate. In the spring, the larva will leave its cocoon and pupate. The adult will dig its way out of the ground and look for a mate. Males die shortly after mating. Females die after laying all of their eggs.

Remarks

Predators include birds, shrews, and mantids

Internet References

Fact sheet

Works Cited

1.	A Field Guide to Insects By Richard E. White, Donald J. Borror, Roger Tory Peterson

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Mike Boone, cotinis, Beatriz Moisset, Lynette, Mike Quinn, v belov
Last updated 24 July, 2011 - 11:59pm

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