cicada-killer wasp

cicada-killer wasp

▪ insect
      a species of large wasp in the family Sphecidae (order Hymenoptera) that is black or rusty in colour with yellow abdominal bands, similar in appearance to a hornet. Individuals range in size from 2.5 to 3.8 cm (1 to 1.5 inches).

      Adult females hunt for cicadas, usually locating them in trees using their vision and sometimes catching the cicada in flight. Cicadas are paralyzed and stored in underground burrows, where an egg is placed on top of the cicada by the female wasp. Within a few days the egg hatches, and the larva feeds on the cicada. Since the cicada is not dead, it remains as a fresh food source for the immature wasp.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • cicada killer — noun large black or rust colored wasp that preys on cicadas • Syn: ↑Sphecius speciosis • Hypernyms: ↑digger wasp • Member Holonyms: ↑Sphecius, ↑genus Sphecius * * * noun : a lar …   Useful english dictionary

  • cicada killer — a black or rust colored digger wasp, Sphecius speciosis, with a yellow banded abdomen, that preys on cicadas. [1890 95] * * * …   Universalium

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  • Sphecius — Cicada killer wasp redirects here. See also below for other taxa named thus. Cicada killer wasps Mating Western Cicada Killers, Sphecius grandis (Big Bend, Texas, USA). The male is uppermost. Scientific classification …   Wikipedia

  • homopteran — /heuh mop teuhr euhn, hoh /, adj. 1. homopterous. n. 2. a homopterous insect. [1835 45; see HOMOPTEROUS, AN] * * * ▪ insect order Introduction   any of more than 32,000 species of sucking insects, the members of which exhibit considerable… …   Universalium

  • Hornet (disambiguation) — A hornet is an insect. It may also mean:Insects: * a colloquial term for an American wasp, for example the Bald faced hornet, White faced hornet or Cicada killer wasp.Ships: *HMS Hornet , any of ten ships of the Royal Navy *USS Hornet , any of… …   Wikipedia

  • cicadakiller — cicada killer n. A large wasp (Sphecius speciosus) that preys on cicadas. * * * …   Universalium

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