Appearance
The wasps are larger than the average wasp -- up to 2 inches long -- and are the largest wasps in the U.S., with the females being larger than the males. They are a reddish-black color with yellow stripes, and are similar in appearance to hornets. They are sometimes mistakenly called giant ground hornets.
Reproduction
Females are fertilized by the males while they're on the ground, before flying off together while the male holds on. After this, the female makes a burrow in the ground, which can be up to 3 feet in length. It does this by pushing soil and dirt with its front legs. The burrows might be left open but the individual cells where the wasp will lay its eggs are closed.
Trapping the Cicadas
The female wasps sting cicadas, which paralyzes them. The wasp takes the cicada back to her burrow, which can be tricky for the wasp because cicadas can be twice their size. Once she arrives, she drops the cicada in a cell, deposits an egg on it and covers it with dirt. The cicada serves as food for the larva of the egg. Sometimes up to four cicadas are used for an egg, but male eggs only require one as they are smaller. Male wasps cannot sting, therefore they can only grapple with other insects.
Benefits/Disadvantages
These wasps are considered beneficial by people whose plants are being eaten by cicadas. Despite their appearance, the female wasps only sting if they are trodden on with bare feet or handled roughly, and they don't attack humans unless they've been provoked.