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Cicada Killer

Sphecius speciosus

Published on Project Noah
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35.3917, -97.7254

Field Notes

Notes:

I thought this was a Cicada Killer Wasp, but the antennae are much shorter... Last year a swarm of these were living in the front yard. I don't know where they are nesting now, but they are hanging out around the back door and are very aggressive. I happened to hit this one with some wasp spray.

Species ID Suggestions

Eastern Cicada Killer

Sphecius speciosus

Reference Link
BugEric
1

Comments (5)
Cammie C. Jeffries
I guess I forgot to enter the ID for this insect! Thank you Eric for the reminder!
BugEric
I agree the specimen has broken antennae. Looks like a female, too, given the long, stout spines at the tip of the hind tibia.
Aaron_G
Cicada killers are quite docile as far as giant wasps go. Check out the final image on my spotting to see how I feel about these wasps. :-) http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/12404210
MrsPbio
It's a cicada-killer . Probably male, as females are larger .
BillSweeney
That wasp has damaged or deformed antenna. All wasps have long antenna, and that one sure looks like a Sphecius sp. to me. (Size, banding, color all look like Sphecius speciosus) They're usually not aggressive towards people though.
Photographed
PublishedJuly 1, 2013

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