What is a "cicada killer"?

A cicada killer is a large, solitary wasp that belongs to the species Sphecius speciosus. It is known for its impressive size and distinctive hunting behavior. The female cicada killer captures cicadas and paralyzes them with her venomous sting. She then carries the paralyzed cicada to her underground burrow, where she lays an egg on it. Once the egg hatches, the developing larva feeds on the paralyzed cicada, eventually pupating and emerging as an adult wasp. Despite its intimidating size, the cicada killer is not aggressive toward humans and generally prefers to avoid confrontation.