Yes, cicada killers can sting people, but as solitary wasps they will only do so if seriously aggravated. Their stings are slight, and rare, but do happen. See link below, for Wikipedia section on Cicada killers' interactions with humans.
Cicada killers are cold-blooded insects. These are actually solitary wasps that are large and solitary. They are sometimes called sand hornets.
It sounds like you are describing a cicada killer wasp. These large wasps are solitary and are known for their habit of digging holes in the ground to create nests for their young. Though they can look intimidating because of their size, cicada killer wasps are generally not aggressive towards humans.
I think you are referring to a Cicada Killer Wasp. They feed on Cicada bugs and burrow/live in the ground. The females can sting but usually don't sting people. They use their stinger to paralyze the cicada bug. Males can't sting. I found one of these on the screen of my house window tonight ~ ick! I hope there aren't a lot of burrows in our yard!
The Cicada Killer is a species of large wasp. The female stings a cicada to imobilize it. It then carries the cicada to a ground borrow where it then lays its eggs on the cicada. When the eggs hatch, the larva of the wasp utilize the body of the cicada for food.
"Cow killers" is a nickname for certain types of insects such as velvet ants that can deliver a painful sting, but they do not actually kill cows or humans. Their sting can be very painful, hence the nickname, but it is not lethal to humans.
There are not any true natural enemies of cicada killers. Cicada killers have a very powerful sting that most birds and other animals can't handle.
Cicada killers are active during the day and typically do not come out at night.
WATER! Drowning the soil will deter cicada killers. If you see them entering their hole/ burrow, pour boiling water down into it to kill any in the burrow as well as kill the larvae awaiting next spring.Important to note that only females can sting( rarely do, they prefer to save their venom for cicada's) and also are the hunters; you might see them carrying a paralyzed cicada down into their burrow/hole. The males do not have a stinger- it is their sexual organ that extends from them, not a stinger.Most people refer to them as harmless, but scary looking, and annoying.
Cicada killers look like oversized yellow jackets they burrow in the ground and lay there eggs inside of the cicada
Cicada killers are cold-blooded insects. These are actually solitary wasps that are large and solitary. They are sometimes called sand hornets.
Africa, America (Caribbean, Central, North), Asia, Australia, and Europe are where cicada killers are located. The insects in question (Sphecius spp) share cicada-killing and ground-dwelling with their equivalents in South America, Liogorytes spp.
It's tough since they live in the ground but below article has some good suggestions. If it is a smaller area and dry, I would dust the ground, cover with clear plastic, secure the edges and when they emerge and try to escape they will contact the dust which should reduce the adults. this method will also give you a better idea of the actual population you are dealing with.
cicada killers. males don't sting, but they sure are intimidating looking.
I was just browsing for this question myself and found that they do not unless they are provoked. http://www.masterbeekeeper.org/stinging/cicadakiller.htm
Africa, America (Caribbean, Central, North), Asia, Australia, and Europe are where cicada killers are located. The insects in question (Sphecius spp) share cicada-killing and ground-dwelling with their equivalents in South America, Liogorytes spp.
They sting people.
It sounds like you are describing a cicada killer wasp. These large wasps are solitary and are known for their habit of digging holes in the ground to create nests for their young. Though they can look intimidating because of their size, cicada killer wasps are generally not aggressive towards humans.