Sphecius Speciosus - Other Cicada Killer Wasps

Other Cicada Killer Wasps

The North American cicada killer wasps all belong to the genus Sphecius, of which there are 21 species worldwide. The remaining three cicada-killing species in the genus in North America are:

• Sphecius convallis, the Pacific cicada killer, occurs in the western U.S. and in Mexico.
• Sphecius grandis, the western cicada killer, occurs in the mid- and western U.S. and in Mexico.
• Sphecius hogardii, the Caribbean cicada killer, occurs in the U.S. in Florida and in the Caribbean.

It is suspected that the western cicada killer represents more than one species. There is also evidence to suggest that the eastern cicada killer either has a subspecies or a closely related species that mimics the Pacific cicada killer. Alternatively, when they were already distinct species, significant hybridization has occurred between them, though not enough to fully overcome their present reproductive isolation.

The spectacled cicada killer, Sphecius spectabilis, is found in the South American countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, French Guiana, Paraguay, Surinam and Venezuela.

Sixteen other cicada killer wasp species in the genus Sphecius are found in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. There are also other genera of cicada-killing wasps (e.g., Liogorytes in South America and Exeirus in Australia) which are the "cicada killers" of their native lands.