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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Apoidea sans Anthophila – Apoid Wasps » Square-headed Wasps, Sand Wasps, and Allies (Crabronidae) » Bembicinae » Sand Wasps (Bembicini) » Spheciina » Cicada-killer Wasps (Sphecius) » Eastern Cicada-killer Wasp (Sphecius speciosus)
Photo#132281
Cicada Killer Wasp - Sphecius speciosus - female
Copyright © 2007 Kim Wood

Cicada Killer Wasp - Sphecius speciosus - Female
Madison - UW campus, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA
July 21, 2007
Size: about 1 to 1.5 inches
This is a Cicada Killer Wasp - A female I think? They have nested in this area for the last several years, although last year there were only a couple. This time there were quite a few flying around.... battling in the air for territory I think? I believe the photos were of females, as there was one smaller guy hanging around that I figured was the male. I've learned what I know about them from the website of Chuck Holiday. http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~hollidac/cicadakillerhome.html

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Cicada Killer Wasp - Sphecius speciosus - female Cicada Killer Wasp - Sphecius speciosus - female Cicada Killer Wasp - Sphecius speciosus - male - female
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Contributed by Kim Wood on 30 July, 2007 - 10:35am
Last updated 17 August, 2007 - 4:13pm

male vs female
Okay - then I have both sexes... the one on the bush should be female then. I'm going to add one now that has those obvious spurs on the back legs....
… Kim Wood, 30 July, 2007 - 3:54pm login or register to post comments

Male.
This is classic male behavior. Only easy way to tell, though, is whether the spurs on the hind tibia are obvious and blade-like (female), or simple and not very prominent (male).
… Eric R. Eaton, 30 July, 2007 - 3:20pm login or register to post comments

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