Hobbies And Interests
Cicada Killers
Cicada killers are predatory wasps that compose the Sphecius genus. Cicada killers are most common from eastern Colorado to the Atlantic coast, but a lone specimen can also be found in the Western states. Cicada killers primarily nest in loose, sandy soils, but will also nest in fine, dry clay soils that are easy to dig through. Cicada killers are large wasps that grow more than 2 inches long. Females excavate burrows through the summer and they pack the holes with large cicadas that the young wasp larvae feed on.
Scoliid Wasps
Scoliid wasps are large, stout wasps that feed on numerous species of beetles including the invasive Japanese beetles. Scoliid wasps grow up to 2 inches long and have solid black bodies with a blue iridescent sheen. Female wasps often dig small burrows in search of scarab beetle larvae in the soil. Often, the wasps will simply follow beetles down their own burrows in search of beetle larvae. Females sting the larvae to paralyze it and then deposit an egg into the beetle. The wasp larvae develops and feeds on the young beetle before spinning a cocoon and then emerging as an adult.
Velvet Ants
Red velvet ants, commonly called cow killers, are often seen around exposed clay soils searching for small insect burrows. Velvet ants are actually a species of solitary wasp in the Dasymutilla genus. Males are black and slender, grow up to 2 inches long, and have a pair of wings. Females resemble ants, are wingless, and are covered with black and red hair that give them a velvet sheen. Females dig through the soil in search of bumble bee nests in the soil. They lay eggs that parasitize adult bumble bees and develop in the soil before emerging as adults. These wasps are often called "cow killers" due to the painful sting they can inflict when handled. The sting is said to be so painful that it could kill a cow.
Mud Daubers
Mud daubers burrow in clay soil to collect mud particles, which they use to construct their nests. Adult mud daubers are very skinny, long wasps. They construct hollow mud tubes on solid surfaces using wet clay soils. Once a tube is complete, females start to hunt for black widow spiders, which they kill with their powerful sting. The females transport the spiders to the tube. Once a tube is completely filled with spiders, she deposits a single egg and seals the tube. The young larvae feeds on the spiders as it develops; and once it reaches the bottom of the tube, weaves a cocoon and emerges as an adult.