Cicada Killer vs Periodical Cicada
Cicada Killers and periodical cicadas are easy to mix up at a glance, but a few details separate them quickly. Here is how to tell which one you found and what, if anything, you should do about it.
Quick answer
Check for this first. A cicada killer has very large wasp up to two inches long, while a periodical cicada has black body with bright red eyes.
Side-by-side comparison
| Cicada Killer | Periodical Cicada | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Bees & Wasps | True Bugs |
| Scientific name | Sphecius speciosus | Magicicada septendecim |
| Size | 30–50 mm | 25–33 mm |
| Colors | Black, Yellow and Red | Black, Orange and Red |
| Legs | 6 legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes | Yes |
| Bites or stings | Stings | No |
| Risk | Nuisance | Harmless |
| Key feature | Very large wasp up to two inches long | Black body with bright red eyes |
Key differences
- Group: Cicada Killer belongs to bees & wasps, while periodical cicada belongs to true bugs. Two pairs of wings and, in females, a stinger at the tip of the abdomen.
- Size: Cicada Killers are larger, reaching 50 mm, while periodical cicadas top out around 33 mm.
- Color: Cicada Killers are black, yellow and red; periodical cicadas are black, orange and red.
- Risk: the cicada killer is a nuisance pest but not a health threat to most people, while the periodical cicada poses no real threat to people, pets or property.
- Where found: look for cicada killers in lawns and grass and in yards and on patios; periodical cicadas turn up on trees and shrubs and in woods and along trails.
- Signature feature: Cicada Killers: very large wasp up to two inches long. Periodical Cicadas: black body with bright red eyes.
How to identify cicada killers
One of the largest wasps in North America, with a black-and-yellow abdomen and amber wings. Females dig burrows in sandy lawns and stock them with paralyzed cicadas.
- Very large wasp up to two inches long
- Rusty-red thorax and amber-tinted wings
- Burrows with U-shaped soil mounds in bare, sandy spots
How to identify periodical cicadas
A black cicada with red eyes and orange wing veins that emerges by the millions every 13 or 17 years. Males fill forests with a loud, pulsing chorus.
- Black body with bright red eyes
- Orange-veined clear wings
- Emerges in huge numbers, leaving holes in the soil and empty shells
Which one is more dangerous?
The cicada killer carries more risk. Despite their size, cicada killers are docile; males can't sting and females rarely do.
Despite their size, cicada killers are docile; males can't sting and females rarely do. Cicadas don't bite or sting; egg-laying can damage branch tips on young trees.
Where and when you'll see each
Cicada Killers turn up in lawns and grass and in yards and on patios, mostly in summer. Periodical Cicadas turn up on trees and shrubs and in woods and along trails, mostly in summer.
Where you found the bug is itself a strong clue, since these two rarely share the same spots.
What to do if you find one
Cicada Killers: Thicken lawn turf so there is less bare soil for burrows. Read the full removal guide for more.
Periodical Cicadas: no control is needed. Cicadas don't bite or sting; egg-laying can damage branch tips on young trees.
Biology: bees & wasps and true bugs
Bees and wasps belong to the same order as ants. Social species such as honey bees, bumble bees, yellowjackets and hornets live in colonies with a queen, while solitary species such as mud daubers and cicada killers raise their young alone. Only females can sting, because the stinger is a modified egg-laying tube.
True bugs have piercing, straw-like mouthparts used to suck plant sap or, in a few species, blood. They develop through gradual metamorphosis: nymphs look like small, wingless adults and molt several times as they grow. Many release strong odors from scent glands when threatened.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between cicada killers and periodical cicadas?
Group: Cicada Killer belongs to bees & wasps, while periodical cicada belongs to true bugs. Two pairs of wings and, in females, a stinger at the tip of the abdomen.
Which is bigger, a cicada killer or a periodical cicada?
Cicada Killer: 30–50 mm. Periodical Cicada: 25–33 mm.
Do cicada killers or periodical cicadas bite?
Cicada Killers do not bite and can sting. Periodical Cicadas do not bite.
Where are they usually found?
Cicada Killers: in lawns and grass and in yards and on patios. Periodical Cicadas: on trees and shrubs and in woods and along trails.