and rather stocky with yellow an 
on their bodies. They frequentl 
in a sloping bank or terrace a 
Nest building begins when the fertilized female 
digs a lengthy burrow, in which she constructs 
several cells. Before laying her eggs in the cells, 
she leaves the nest and hunts for a cicada. She 
paralyzes it with her sting, brings it back to the 
nest, stores it in a cell, and lays an egg on it. 
When the egg hatches, the larva feeds on the 
paralyzed cicada. 
In a heavily infested area, you can control cicada 
killers and other solitary, ground-nesting wasps 
by applying a 5- or 10-percent DDT dust, a 
5- or 6-percent chlordane dust, or a 1-percent 
dieldrin dust, over the soil surface, concentrating 
on the openings of the nests. If only a few wasps 
are present, wait until they have entered their 
nests; then direct a few puffs of dust into each nest 
opening—or pour in 1 teaspoonful of carbon tetra- 
chloride—and fill it with dirt. 
TREATING WASP STINGS 
1. Apply an icepack to the area of the sting. 
2. Next, apply a paste made of water and 
bicarbonate of soda. 
If stung many times, or if the reaction is severe, 
see a doctor following first-aid treatment (1 and 2 
above). In rare cases of allergy to insect venom, 
the sting may cause severe general illness. If 
illness develops, see a doctor promptly. 
Source: Public Health Service, U. S. Department 
of Health, Education, and Welfare. 
THIS LEAFLET was prepared by the Entomology 
Research Division, Agricultural Research Service. 
Washington, D. C. Issued May 1954 
Slightly revised March 1958 
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government 
Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. - Price 5 cents 
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1958—O-467352 
8 
