Damage Of Cicada Research Paper
Do Cicadas Damage or Eat Trees?
The splash of jumping into a pool. The clink of ice cubes in lemonade. The whisper of swaying tree leaves. Those are the sounds of summer we simply can’t get enough of.
The one song you’d skip on your summer soundtrack? Probably the rhythmic (and incessant) chirping of cicadas.
If you hear or see cicadas in your yard or on your trees, are they just annoying or can they do damage?
How to Stop Cicada Tree Damage
When will the cicadas go away?
First thing’s first, let’s talk about how long cicadas will be around for. There are two types of cicadas: annual cicadas (also called dog day cicadas) and periodical cicadas (also known as 13 or 17-year cicadas).
Periodical cicadas live underground for either 13 or 17 years and emerge en mass in either May or June. Then, they’re around for 4 to 6 weeks …show more content…
before burrowing underground again.
Annual cicadas come out later in the year (July and August) and stick around for about 2 to 4 weeks.
What trees do cicadas eat? Fruit trees? Oak trees?
Cicadas actually don’t eat tree leaves or branches. Instead, they create slits in tree branches to lay their eggs. Those splits weaken the tree, and later, you could see those branches breaking, withering or dying.
Once the cicada eggs hatch, the critters attach themselves to the roots of the tree. Where literally hundreds or thousands of cicadas could be stealing the tree’s nutrients for either 2 or 3 years–or up to 17.
Cicadas prefer to lay eggs on branches that are 0.25 to 0.5” round.
So, that means they prefer:
• Oak trees
• Maple trees
• Fruit trees (especially cherry and pear)
• Hawthorn trees
• Redbud trees
• Young trees since these branches are just the perfect diameter for cicadas
How can I keep cicadas off trees?
If periodical cicadas are going to emerge in your area, wait until next year to plant new trees because cicadas favor young trees.
Or if you already have planted a young tree or have one of the trees mentioned above, you can protect it from cicada damage by wrapping susceptible branches with mesh netting.
Cicadas have already damaged my trees. Anything I can do?
Generally, mature trees can sustain the minor damage from cicadas. But, young trees can be hit harder. If you first saw a lot of cicadas, followed by slits in your tree’s branches, act fast–especially if your tree is younger. You’ll want to prune those branches off within 6 to 10 weeks. That way, you’ll remove the eggs before they hatch and move underground to feed on the tree’s roots.
Click here for step-by-step instructions on controlling and treating this
fungus!
The splash of jumping into a pool. The clink of ice cubes in lemonade. The whisper of swaying tree leaves. Those are the sounds of summer we simply can’t get enough of.
The one song you’d skip on your summer soundtrack? Probably the rhythmic (and incessant) chirping of cicadas.
If you hear or see cicadas in your yard or on your trees, are they just annoying or can they do damage?
How to Stop Cicada Tree Damage
When will the cicadas go away?
First thing’s first, let’s talk about how long cicadas will be around for. There are two types of cicadas: annual cicadas (also called dog day cicadas) and periodical cicadas (also known as 13 or 17-year cicadas).
Periodical cicadas live underground for either 13 or 17 years and emerge en mass in either May or June. Then, they’re around for 4 to 6 weeks …show more content…
before burrowing underground again.
Annual cicadas come out later in the year (July and August) and stick around for about 2 to 4 weeks.
What trees do cicadas eat? Fruit trees? Oak trees?
Cicadas actually don’t eat tree leaves or branches. Instead, they create slits in tree branches to lay their eggs. Those splits weaken the tree, and later, you could see those branches breaking, withering or dying.
Once the cicada eggs hatch, the critters attach themselves to the roots of the tree. Where literally hundreds or thousands of cicadas could be stealing the tree’s nutrients for either 2 or 3 years–or up to 17.
Cicadas prefer to lay eggs on branches that are 0.25 to 0.5” round.
So, that means they prefer:
• Oak trees
• Maple trees
• Fruit trees (especially cherry and pear)
• Hawthorn trees
• Redbud trees
• Young trees since these branches are just the perfect diameter for cicadas
How can I keep cicadas off trees?
If periodical cicadas are going to emerge in your area, wait until next year to plant new trees because cicadas favor young trees.
Or if you already have planted a young tree or have one of the trees mentioned above, you can protect it from cicada damage by wrapping susceptible branches with mesh netting.
Cicadas have already damaged my trees. Anything I can do?
Generally, mature trees can sustain the minor damage from cicadas. But, young trees can be hit harder. If you first saw a lot of cicadas, followed by slits in your tree’s branches, act fast–especially if your tree is younger. You’ll want to prune those branches off within 6 to 10 weeks. That way, you’ll remove the eggs before they hatch and move underground to feed on the tree’s roots.
Click here for step-by-step instructions on controlling and treating this
fungus!