I was looking for hibiscus to photo today and wham! something flies down onto a plant next to me. I looked under the leaves and saw this cicada killer stinging a cicada.He was oblivious to me so I took a few pics, this one turned out the best. :-)
Kyle :-)
Geez....I had one of those "encounters" a week ago. Sounded like the end of the insect world...right by my ear. I'd never heard of a cicada killer. 'Was a noisy life and death struggle. By the time I recovered enough to run for camera, wasp was dragging his kill into the shrubs. Never knew one existed till I "googled" it!
I've heard they have a pretty wicked sting, good thing he was taking it out on the cicada not you! LOL
Well, I really wanted to separate 'em, figuring to help the underdog, but I'd never heard such a noise and was sorta stunned. I've seen the wasp again, but I haven't seen....or heard, anymore cicadas lately. Wish that wasp would attack and eat a few raccoons!
We have a huge red wasp problem here in the area I live in. I hate them ... but eating the cicadas is a plus. I love ladybugs for the simple reason that I've seen them eating whiteflys and other such hibiscus-loving "things" right off the leaf/bud.
These guys burrow in the ground near cement driveways, sidewalks, etc.Ignore humans most of the time. Kinda like a regular wasp on steroids!!LOL
I've seen those kinds of wasps, but have never seen them kill a cicada... Never knew the cicadas had any kind of predator like that.
Tonight on my hardy hibiscus I had three tiny frogs.. Each setting on the leaf lower than a giant red bloom facing the bloom.. two of the green tree frogs not any bigger than my thumbnail and one tiny frog that I didn't recognise as a tree frog, but sitting very high on the hibiscus patiently waiting for dinner to swing by..
My hibiscus have also been so attractive to night flying moths and hummingbirds.. so cute and fun..
