---

Parishioners of Sacred Heart Church in Castleton have been treading lightly as they gather on the church grounds lately: Cicada killer wasps are back there for another season of mischief.

Sphecius speciosus, the insect commonly referred to as the cicada killer wasp, is a species of large digger wasps. The females are generally non-aggressive, only using their stingers to paralyze cicadas, carrying the larger bugs back to their nests to feed their young. The male wasps do not have stingers, but often swarm around, appearing to be aggressive as they defend their nests.

Cicada killer wasps build their nests by burrowing in sandy soil, creating tunnels and rooms underground. The tunnels can be up to 70 inches long and run as much as 15 inches below ground.

The wasps themselves can grow up to two inches in length. They have black and yellow markings on their thorax and large wings, adding to their intimidating appearance. Their natural predator is the black crow.

Castleton parishioners have been dealing with cicada killer wasps for more than 10 years, said Rev. Thomas Krupa, pastor. "We've tried all sorts of different ways to eliminate [the wasps], but we just live with them now."

The wasps usually show up around the grounds of the church in June or July and retreat to their nests for good by September or October.

"The only problem is, they leave these big mounds of sand," said Father Krupa. "You could pat down [the mounds] every single night, but in the morning, they will be broken through. They're very persistent little critters."

Still, he said, they are really "more of a nuisance than anything." The wasps buzz around close to the ground, keeping an eye out for cicadas. Five-foot-seven Father Krupa says he has never seen one at eye level: "They buzz around your feet or waist."

The parishioners of Sacred Heart have gotten used to giant wasps flying around their feet, but newcomers are often wary: "When you look at these big things flying around, you think you're going to be in the hospital for five days" if you're stung, Father Krupa said.

Although the parish has not had to alter any summer activities, wedding parties may find the wasps a little off-putting: "It's very concerning to the bridal party," said Father Krupa. Wasps have occasionally gotten caught in clothing, particularly flowing dresses.

To answer parishioners' and visitors' questions, Father Krupa created an information sheet on cicada killer wasps that's kept in the back of the church.

"Ninety percent of the time, someone will ask what those big things flying around are, so I will just [give them] a flyer instead of explaining it every time," he remarked. Although the parish had an exterminator spray chemicals in and around the wasp's nests, the only way to really get rid of them is ripping out the grass and paving the area. Sacred Heart isn't looking to do that anytime soon.

"We just completely ignore them," the pastor said. "The maintenance person mows around them. The parishioners just ignore them because they know what they are and that they're not dangerous.

"They're scary; they really are. You would move really quickly" to avoid them, he added. "I know what they are, but if I'm just kind of walking to the garage and this thing buzzes around me, I will react. It's just a primal reaction. If something buzzes around you, you just want to get rid of it, even if you know it's not going to hurt you."[[In-content Ad]]

---