Cicada Killer Wasp

I had the rare treat of watching a literal life-and-death struggle take place in my backyard back in August.  The battle was between two large insects:  a Cicada and a Cicada Killer wasp.

The shed skin from a Cicada, left clinging on
a Dogwood tree limb.

We're all probably pretty familiar with Cicadas.  They're large, usually dark-colored insects that emerge during the summer months.  Even when they're not seen they're always heard; a loud, grating buzzing sound that can drown out conversation -- and sometimes even the neighbor's lawn mower!  The Wilmington, NC area primarily has Annual Cicadas that emerge in modest but predictable numbers each summer.  Annual Cicadas spend most of their life underground feeding on sap from tree roots until environmental cues (mainly soil temperature) tell them it's time to tunnel up to the surface.  The soft-bodied larva then climb a tree trunk where they literally split their skin, crawling out as an adult.  After a time drying their new wings and soft, new skin they're ready for their short life as an adult, mainly spent feeding on tree sap, mating, and for the females, laying eggs.  This year I first noticed a number of adult Cicadas in July, although a relatively large number of newly-shed skins were recently noted clinging to tree trunks even now in mid-September.

Southeastern North Carolina doesn't appear to share in the large outbreaks of the Periodic Cicadas that occur at 13 or 17 year intervals in other parts of the Eastern United States.  These amazing creatures have developed a synchronized schedule to their emergence from their underground larval form that results in huge numbers of adult Cicadas appearing at regular intervals.  This is believed to be advantageous for the Cicadas since their tremendous numbers overwhelm all possible predators, leaving plenty of adults to mate, lay eggs, and ensure the survival of the Cicadas for another generation.  The BBC has a wonderful nature documentary (featuring the venerable David Attenborough) profiling the 17-year Cicadas and their successful reproductive strategy.  A good resource for tracking these long-lived broods of Periodic Cicadas is here at CicadaMania.com.  Perhaps you live in an area that is frequented by these insects.

Now, back to my backyard in the middle of August.  I was actually attempting to photograph some butterflies when a Cicada's frantic buzzing alerts me to look up into my Magnolia tree.  I watched as a Cicada spiraled down ungracefully into my garden, thrashing on the ground.  I ran over to get a better look and saw another very large insect struggling with the Cicada:  this was my first look at a Cicada Killer wasp.  Native to the Eastern United States, Cicada Killer wasps emerge around the same time as the adult Cicadas.  They crawl along tree trunks and branches searching for Cicadas, at which point they tackle the unsuspecting insect and sting it with a paralyzing poison that leaves the Cicada alive, but immobilized.

Cicada Killer wasp, dragging the Cicada
up to a higher perch from which
she can become airborne.

Cicada Killer wasp administering a sting

The clearest picture I got of the Cicada Killer wasp and her prey, a paralyzed Cicada.

Now here's the amazing part:  we know as far as insects go Cicadas are pretty massive.  The Cicada Killer wasp picks up the paralyzed Cicada using its legs, and struggling with every ounce of its strength flies off with it.  Its destination?  A small pit dug in the ground earlier where the wasp will bury the Cicada.  A single egg will be laid on the Cicada which will consume the insect as food.

Cicadas and Cicada Killer wasps -- "Nature" certainly doesn't pull any punches!