Giant wasps digging holes all over your yard? Cicada killers are intimidating and destroy your lawn with their burrowing. Our targeted ground wasp treatment eliminates them so your family can enjoy your yard again.
They look terrifying, but understanding them helps us eliminate them effectively.
Cicada killers are up to 2 inches long with black and yellow markings. Unlike yellow jackets, they are solitary — each female digs her own nest. They hunt cicadas to feed their young.
They dig deep burrows in lawns, gardens, and sandy soil, creating large dirt mounds at the entrance. Multiple wasps nesting in one area can honeycomb your entire yard with tunnels.
Males aggressively buzz around people but cannot sting. Females can sting but rarely do unless handled. Their huge size and territorial behavior make outdoor activities stressful.
These signs mean cicada killers have chosen your property for their nesting grounds.
U-shaped dirt mounds appearing on your lawn, near walkways, or along garden edges — each marks a burrow entrance.
Large wasps (1.5 to 2 inches) flying low over your lawn, hovering near the ground, or diving into holes.
Male cicada killers aggressively buzzing and hovering around anyone who walks near their territory in your yard.
Areas of lawn becoming bare and damaged from extensive burrowing activity and displaced soil.
Paralyzed or dead cicadas found near burrow entrances — females drop their prey before dragging them underground.
More wasps and more burrows each summer as new generations return to nest near where they were born.
Cicada killers are a common summer pest across Michigan, emerging from late June through September. Michigan's sandy and well-drained soils — especially in the Ann Arbor, Jackson, and Lansing areas — provide ideal nesting conditions. Our hot July and August temperatures coincide perfectly with annual cicada emergence, giving cicada killers plenty of prey. Suburban lawns with sun-exposed, well-drained areas are prime real estate for these wasps. Without treatment, populations grow each year as new females return to nest near their birthplace, turning a few holes into a yard full of burrows.
Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, Chelsea, Dexter, and surrounding communities
Jackson, Brooklyn, Manchester, Grass Lake, and surrounding communities
Lansing, East Lansing, Okemos, Holt, and surrounding communities
We target cicada killers at the source — their underground burrows — so they don't come back next summer.
We locate and map every active burrow on your property, assess the population size, and identify the soil conditions attracting cicada killers to your lawn.
We apply professional-grade treatments directly into each burrow, eliminating adults, larvae, and eggs deep underground where DIY products can't reach.
We provide recommendations for thickening your lawn and modifying soil conditions to make your property less attractive to cicada killers in future seasons.
Fully licensed Michigan pest control professionals with comprehensive insurance coverage.
We treat each burrow individually with professional products that reach deep underground.
Same-day and next-day appointments so you can use your yard again this summer.
Over 200 five-star reviews from Michigan homeowners who trust us to protect their properties.
Cicada killers are large solitary wasps (up to 2 inches) that dig burrows in lawns and gardens. They hunt cicadas to feed their larvae. Despite their intimidating size, they are not aggressive toward humans.
Rarely. Males buzz aggressively but cannot sting. Females can sting but only if directly handled or stepped on. Their sting is mild compared to other wasps. Their size and behavior are more frightening than dangerous.
Females dig burrows in well-drained, sunny soil to lay eggs. They prefer bare or thin lawn areas. Multiple females often nest in the same area, creating significant dirt mounds and lawn damage.
They emerge from late June through September, peaking in July and August when annual cicadas are active. They are most active during the hottest summer days and return to the same nesting areas each year.
They can cause significant damage over time. Each burrow displaces large amounts of soil, and populations grow yearly as new females return to nest nearby. Professional treatment breaks this cycle before damage becomes severe.
Stop tiptoeing around giant wasps. Let us reclaim your lawn so your family can play outside worry-free.