Cicada 2012: Control of Periodical Cicada Insect
Cicada bugs, also called the "17 year locust", Cicada insects or Periodical
Cicada, are present in many areas of the country. In areas where a limited
number of these insects are present, they do not pose more than a minor nuisance.
However, when they arrive by the millions, they can do serious damage
to a variety of young trees and shrubs in your yard. While Cicadas are
fascinating to some, their presence in big numbers, can be un-nerving to
many people.
These large spring hatches, called "broods", occur in 13 year and 17 year
cycles.
The 2012 Cicada infestation will be small, limited to Virginia and West
Virginia. Following last year's huge Southern Brood hatch, it is good that
most areas get a break from these noisy pests.
The 2012 Cicada emergence is from Brood I. This brood has a 17 year life
cycle. Again, it will affect Virginia and West Virginia.
Cicada Watch 2011 - See the 2011 Cicada
Tracking reports by city and state from last year's huge emergence. Note:
The 2012 brood is very small. So, we will not be doing a Cicada watch this
year.
Also see the Cicada Brood map - link at the bottom of this page.
Cicada Pictures and Images - See what the
"buzz" is all about.
When a Cicada emergence hits an area, the best protection is pest netting
with a 1/4" mesh.
Buy Pest Netting
Most, but not all years, a Cicada brood hatches, affecting anywhere from
a small area to several states or more. When a particular brood matures and
emerges, it is usually in many millions of insects. Fortunately, their adult
life span above ground is very brief, lasting about four to six weeks.
Cicada is a flying, plant sucking insect that emerges in periodic cycles.
Cicada nymphs suck juices from roots of plants. Egg laying females cause
significant damage to trees during their brief, adult stage. They are
not harmful to humans. Counter to some rumors, they do not bite, nor do they
often land on a human or animal.
Types of Cicada:
There are two basic types of Cicadas:
Periodic, 2-8 year cycle- These insects "seem" to appear every year
in some areas, because their life cycle is staggered. Actually, a different
brood is hatching each year to make it seem like they are annual.
13 to 17 year cycle- This group does not appear every year. When they
do emerge, it is in huge numbers. They are sometimes called "17 Year
Locusts". Although, they are not related to locusts.
The Life Cycle of a Cicada
While the Cicada life span may be as long as 17 years, they spend almost
all of their lives underground. Cicada nymphs emerge from the ground in periodic
cycles. They climb up trees and quickly shed their skins(molt). An adult,
flying cicada emerges. The adult Cicadas' entire purpose in life is to mate
and produce offspring. You can hear the males' mating "song" from early morning
to nightfall. In heavily infested areas, the noise can be quite disturbing.
About five to ten days after mating, the female lands on twigs of deciduous
trees, cuts slits in them, and lays her eggs in the slit.
Adults do not eat. Rather, damage to trees is caused by the adult female
as she cuts slices into twigs to lay her eggs. Shortly after mating, the
male Cicada dies.
The eggs hatch, producing tiny nymphs that fall to the ground. These nymphs
burrow into the soil and feast on underground tree roots. They remain there
for years, slowly growing, until their periodic cycle calls them to emerge
again as adults.
How Cicadas Harm Trees and Shrubs:
It's the female that harms trees. Choosing deciduous trees, she cuts two
slits in small pencil sized (or smaller) branches and twigs, and lays about
24 eggs. She then goes on to another twig and repeats the process. A female
cicada can deposit up to 600 eggs.
Where infestations are heavy, the egg laying process is repeated on a tremendous
number of twigs. This causes the twigs(or ends of the tree) to die, and often
break off. With a heavy infestation, it often destroys young trees and bushes.
While the damage may look bad on large trees, a mature tree can usually
survive the damage.
Affected Trees, Bushes and Shrubs:
Cicada love any woody stalk 1/2 inch or less in diameter. Pines are not so
much because of the sap. Any trees from soft gum trees to medium beech, apple,
etc to harder woods such as maples, oaks, hickory. The real key is branches
that are 1/2" in diameter or less, with long open sections that they can
"stitch" to lay eggs (that is why pines are not targets).
Need Protection: |
Don't Need Protection: |
Apple Trees
Arborvitae
Ash
Beech
Black Eyed Susan
Crab Apple
Cherry
Dogwood
Fruit Trees in general
Grape vines
Hawthorn
Hickory
Holly
Japanese Maple
Lilacs
Magnolia
Maple
Oak
Peach Tree
Pear Tree
Raspberry vines
Rhododendron
Roses
Rose of Sharon
Spirea
Viburnum
Willow |
Most Flowers
Herbs
Vegetables |
Cicada Protection and Control:
Insecticides tend to be ineffective.
Many animals eat Cicadas, including birds, dogs and cats. Humans eat Cicadas,
too. If you are so inclined, there are recipes online! Cicadas emerge for
a very brief period of time in huge numbers. The feast is short lived. Natural
predators don't make a big dent in their populations.
Insect Nettings are the most effective way to provide protection for
your young trees, which are most susceptible. Because Cicada are large insects,
a 1/4" mesh netting is effective. The netting needs to be wrapped completely
around the tree and tied, or sealed off to keep any insects from entering.
Important Note: Even if the Cicadas have emerged in your area, you
have 5-10 days to cover young trees before the female begins to cause damage,
as she lays her eggs.
Buy Pest Netting- It's the best cicada prevention.
Find bags and sheet sizes to protect against Cicada, birds, deer bunnies,
and other pests.
Rlated Topics:
Cicadas
- From Garden Hobbies
Brood Map Displays a chart of all of the broods and when
they will hatch.
Cicada Pictures and Images - See what the
"buzz" is all about.
|
