Cicada killers raise concerns among Texans mistaking them for murder hornets. Here's what to know

Although Texans in Montgomery County have been buzzing with fear over supposed sightings of “murder hornets,” experts are telling them there’s no need to prepare for Armageddon. Texans shouldn’t worry about killer-bugs this fall — just annoying ones.

The Montgomery County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension was flooded with calls last month from concerned residents who saw giant, buzzing insects and fretted that they were “murder hornets,” also known as the Asian giant hornet. The collective panic led AgriLife to make a Facebook post assuring residents the suspects were not murder hornets, but rather, a common large wasp— the Eastern Cicada killer.

Despite the false alarm, residents’ hypervigilance for the murder hornets is not of the tinfoil hat variety — it’s understandable, and they’re not alone in their fear, experts said.

When the invasive Giant Asian hornet was first clocked in Washington state and Canada in late 2019, concern spread across the country — and Texas didn’t skip out on a plan of action.

Governor Greg Abbot formed a task force with Texas A&M Agrilife to prepare for the potential outbreak of the murder hornet in the lone-star state in May of 2020. The move came at the behest of concerned citizens. The task force didn’t aim just to protect citizens from the killer bugs, but honey bees too.

Murder hornets prey on Honeybee populations, which are essential for crop production. When the killer-bug attack hives, they kill the adult worker bees, and then wipe out the next generation by eating the larvae. If the Asian giant hornet were to swarm Texas, agriculture would suffer tenfold, as honeybees are essential for cross-pollination.

Since the task force was formed, no sightings of murder hornets have been reported in Texas. While state agencies still urge Texans to keep an eye out for the threat, they're more likely thinking of the irksome, but ultimately harmless, Eastern Cicada killer that Texans will see this fall.

What are Eastern Cicada killers?

Eastern Cicada killers, also known as Giant Cicada killers, are a family of large wasps roughly 1-1.5 inches long with clear, brownish-wings and black and yellow patterns similar to most wasps.

These wasps are no doubt frightful in appearance, but again, pose minimal threat to humans and agriculture

When do Eastern Cicada killers come out? Do they sting?

Cicada killers crop up in Texas around June, when their prey, Cicadas, are in full, noisy swing. In the US, cicada killer season typically runs until September.

Experts say Eastern Cicada killers are not dangerous to humans. Stings—rare and minor as they are— only come from the females. For the most part, female cicada killers keep their stings for cicadas.

Females can sting humans if they are provoked, which they normally don’t become. As a non-aggressive insect, the only time a cicada-killer would sting a human is if a person stepped on them, or tried to incite them.

A sting from a Cicada killer will not cause significant medical harm to most people— just a little pain and a red welt. However, insect stings can cause varied and severe reactions for some who are allergic. For those people, a sting can cause a serious problem.

How do they behave?

According to Texas A&M Agrilife, as a solitary animal, these large wasps don’t usually attack in large groups to protect their nesting sites. Still, territorial behavior from males like dive bombing and loud buzzing are likely to irritate humans.

Are Cicada killers a threat to the local environment?

Well, it’s tricky. Because the species nests in the ground, they can burrow holes in open areas with loose, workable soil near sunlight and trees. Lawns, embankments, under sidewalks and roadsides are all popular spots.

The burrows female cicada killers make in lawns put holes in the ground and displace soil, creating a sore sight for property owners.

On the other hand, scientists believe cicada killers are a benefit to the environment as they keep local cicada populations in check.