Cicada Killer burrow

Sphecius speciosus

Description:

Large digger wasp. The females dig burrows using mandibles and legs. Burrows can be several feet deep with numerous branches. Once complete the female hunts cicades and carries them back to the burrow, where she lays her eggs on the living, but paralyzed, body.

Notes:

I missed getting the picture of the Cicada Killer flying into the burrow, so waited around hoping to catch her comming out. But after several minutes, all that appeared was a small pile of dirt popping up at the entrance. A few more minutes passed and more soil showed up, then the Cicada Killer backed out of the hole pushing another small pile of dirt out of the entrance.