Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Cicada Wasp Update

None too elegant is the crash landing of a fully laden Cicada-killer Wasp.
And down into the lair goes this cicada. Each of the wasp’s eggs will get from one to three cicadas. The number is sex-dependent, evidently: one cicada is enough for a smaller male wasp; two for a female.
Seeing so many of these big wasps this year. Here’s another nest area. They must have had a very good year last year.
This location, by the way, is the same place favored by the Rufous-backed Cellophane Bees.

mthew

2 responses to “Cicada Wasp Update”

  1. nature969

    Great photos and narrative!

    Reply
  2. Donna E

    I have also noticed an unusual abundance of Cicada-killer wasps this year. In my neighborhood, I fear they outnumber the Cicadas!

    Reply

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