Servicing All of Palm Beach & Broward Counties
Appearance:
Cicada killer wasps have a black body with yellow marks across the thorax and abdomen. They have a large stinger, and the sting can be very painful.
Size:
Cicada killer wasps are very large, between 1 1/8 and 1 5/8 inches long.
Behavior:
Cicada killers are solitary wasps. Males tunnel out of the ground to select a new territory for mating. Shortly after mating, females dig deep burrows, and upon completion seek out a cicada, paralyze it with a sting, and lay an egg on the paralyzed body. Within two weeks, the egg hatches into a larva, eats the cicada, and develops into a pre-pupal stage over winter. Adults emerge in the spring to repeat the cycle.
Habitat:
Cicada killer wasps prefer areas with little or no vegetation, and will nest in lawns, parks, sandy lots, or the edges of forests. They will be more prevalent in areas where annual cicadas are present.
Control:
If you are a South Florida resident and you are suspicious that these Wasps may be evolving in or around your home or business call Protective Pest Control 1-877-200-4333
PAPER WASPS
Appearance:
Paper wasps are reddish-orange to dark brown or black in color. They have yellowish markings on the abdomen. Paper wasps are long and slender with a narrow waist.
Size:
Range from ¾ to 1-inch in length.
Behavior:
Paper wasps are social insects, living in colonies containing workers, queens, and males. Queens emerge during April or May, select a nest site, and build a small paper nest in which the eggs are laid. Adults feed on nectar or other sugary solutions, and bits of caterpillars or flies that are caught and partially chewed to be fed to their young.
Habitat:
A Paper wasp nest is a round, upside-down paper comb that is attached by a single stalk to a horizontal surface. This paper nest resembles an umbrella, hence this wasp’s nickname: "umbrella wasp".
Paper wasps will build their nests under awnings, beneath decks, under porches, in the corners of windows, and beneath soffits. They will also sometimes nest in attics, gas grills, hose reels, and electric outlet boxes.
Control:
If you are a South Florida resident and you are suspicious that these wasps may be evolving in or around your home or business call Protective Pest Control 1-877-200-4333
