Cicada 2008: Control of Periodical Cicada Insect
Cicada bugs will again return to a return to a number of states in 2008.
Also called the "17 year locust", Cicada insects, or bugs, arrive by
the millions, and can do damage to a variety of young trees and shrubs in
your yard.
Our advice to gardeners and homeowners in affected areas, is to cover up
your young trees and shrubs. The best protection is pest netting with a 1/4"
mesh. The 2008 Brood will affect over a dozen states. They are: KY,
GA, IN, MA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV
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 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 protect your young trees
which are most susceptible. A cheesecloth or insect net will keep them out
of the tree. The netting needs to be wrapped completely around the tree and
tied, or sealed off to keep any insects from entering. Because Cicada are
large insects, a 1/4" netting is effective.
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 - There is a variety of bags for
quick coverup, and sheets.
More Information:
Cicadas
- From Garden Hobbies
Brood Map Displays a chart of all of the broods and when
they will hatch.
Buy Pest Netting- Find bags and nets to protect
against Cicada, birds, deer and other pests.
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