More on CKW
August 8th, 2008
My astute brother-in-law, Bob, sent me a little more information on CKW, or Cicada Killer Wasps. Turns out they are considered to be a beneficial insect after all! According to Wikipedia,
Cicada killers exert a natural control on cicada populations and thus may directly benefit the deciduous trees upon which cicadas feed.
As he points out, they’re Tree Huggers. I’m okay with that, although I still cringe at their killing methods.
If you’re interested in reading more about them, go here.
I did manage to get a couple of close-ups as one feverishly tried to dig in our freshly laid compost:
That is one big Mother! I believe I saw a male hovering around, and he was about half her size.
According to the sources, they like well-drained soil. I guess that’s a compliment, but I still really don’t want them hovering around our patio.
To keep them out of your yard, experts suggest that you keep the area that the wasps favor on the wet side so as to make them think their burrow will flood.
Sounds like a plan.
2 Responses to “More on CKW”
southsideandy August 9th, 2008 at 11:43 pm #
I was at Village Crossing shopping center last weekend and actually saw these things flying all over the place outside of Petsmart (while I waited for Petsmart to open). They are frighteningly large and very menacing looking…I probably would have freaked had I not read about them here and had my friend not discovered one in her apartment…
denise August 13th, 2008 at 6:12 pm #
wow—Funny when you read about something you end up seeing it everywhere!