August 21st, 2012 | 
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About two weeks ago, Des Plaines resident Bonnie Reese and her eight-year-old grandson, Ocean, were enjoying a sunny day in the backyard swimming pool when Ocean noticed an insect on the ground.
“Ocean said, ‘what’s this’ and I looked along the side of the pool in the grass and saw a wasp holding a cicada while trying to fly,” said Bonnie. “It was having a hard time lifting the cicada.”
Reese trapped it in a net, put it in a plastic box and took it to The Grove nature center in Glenview for identification. Having not yet heard back from the staff there, she searched the Internet and learned her backyard visitor was a Cicada Killer Wasp. She also learned that the wasps were found in other areas of Des Plaines.
According to Doug Dohlen, Des Plaines Park Dist. assistant superintendent of parks, the wasps nest in sand play areas in the playgrounds and volleyball courts at Lake Park.
“Residents made us aware of the insects’ presence about three weeks ago and we immediately searched all the parks.,” Dohlen added. “We didn’t know what it was at first so we went to the Internet to learn about it. The Cicada Killer Wasps are a bit bigger than a cicada,” said Dohlen. “With a sand play area we didn’t want to spread pest spray to get rid of them. We covered the area with plastic and that did the job.”
Dohlen said the extreme heat and the plastic took care of them. He read that they only make nests near their food sources.
The University of Illinois Extension notes that the wasps are considered beneficial insects because they control cicadas and katydids. They are also considered a nuisance pest, when they nest in large numbers in a play area or near homes.
They are often considered to be giant yellowjackets. They are two inches long, black and red with yellow-banded markings on the abdomen with a reddish brown head and transparent wings.
It is noted that Cicada Killer Wasps are “unlikely” to sting a person. They are not considered dangerous, but are intimidating. But do not pick them up because females may sting.
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