cicada killer

Thân thiện

A cicada killer wasp carries a captured cicada back to its burrow.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large black or rust-colored wasp that preys on cicadas: A "cicada killer" is a type of solitary wasp known for hunting cicadas to use as food for its larvae.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • A cicada killer wasp was digging a burrow in the sandy soil.
  • Despite their intimidating size, cicada killers are generally not aggressive toward humans.
  • The cicada killer paralyzes its prey before carrying it back to its nest.

Advanced Usage

• Ecological role: The term is used in entomology and ecology to describe a specific predator-prey relationship within an ecosystem.
  • The presence of cicada killers can help control local cicada populations.

Variants and Related Words

• Sphecius speciosus: The scientific name for the most common North American species of cicada killer.
• Solitary wasp: A broader category to which the cicada killer belongs, distinguishing it from social wasps like hornets.

Synonyms

• Digger wasp: A general term for wasps that dig nesting burrows, which includes cicada killers.
• Hunting wasp: A descriptive term for wasps that actively hunt other insects.

Related Phrases

• Cicada killer wasp: The full, most common form of the term.
  • The cicada killer wasp is a fascinating example of specialized insect behavior.

Học thuật

Noun

1. large black or rust-colored wasp that preys on cicadas

Từ đồng nghĩa

• sphecius speciosis