The 'Killer' Wasps Are Back

Summertime hasn't been the same in Upper Macungie Township since the invasion of the killer wasps.

The little dirt mounds that mysteriously piled up on the lawn were the first hints of trouble. Then came the onslaught of frightening large-winged killers dive-bombing his property and turning lawns into a birthing suite for bugs. The culprit? Eastern cicada killers, super-sized wasps that show up annually to mate, lay eggs and prey on cicadas. Once they show up, they're nearly impossible to eradicate. They may look scary -- they can grow to be 2 inches long -- but there's no reason to panic when you come across one, experts say. They're not out to sting humans, preferring to save their ammunition for cicadas. Many scientists recommend against killing them, saying they serve a valuable purpose: killing off cicadas, the insects known for their annoying buzzing sound and plant-damaging tendencies. 

The Morning Call, August 31, 2008, http://mobile.mcall.com/news.jsp?key=168186