Are you getting the cicada worries? You’re not alone. At Meadow View Growers we have been receiving calls about how to protect your plants. Here are the essentials that will help you protect your plants this year.
Cicadas are not harmful to humans but can cause significant damage to young trees and shrubs when egg-laying females burrow into thin branches. Cicada adults are identified by their black bodies and red eyes.
- Periodical cicadas have long life cycles, and they are distinguished by “broods”. Brood X will emerge in 2021. This means that the eggs that were laid 17 years ago and the grubs that have been growing ever since will emerge out of the soil, and molt into adults.
- The molting grub is not the damaging phase of their cycles, but the flying females. After mating, they will find small branches of trees (many kinds, unfortunately), and lay their eggs into them. These small branches may die.
- Since the adult females are mobile, you don’t necessarily have to live in or near a forest to have them find you. They emerge by the millions, and will disperse to most trees in large geographic areas. While they will be more abundant in forests and areas with lots of trees, they will still radiate outwards towards other trees. This includes neighborhoods and city centers, even country areas with large crop areas between homes and forests.
- For large, mature trees, nothing needs to be done, as there may be a couple of small branch “prunings”, but the tree will be just fine. For small trees with tender branches, or “whips” (young trees with narrow trunks), they may be severely damaged or killed. Most trees would be fine, but for many, they don’t want to risk that special young tree that they recently planted. They don’t attack annual or perennial flowers.
- Placing cicada netting over young trees may help them to be protected from egg-laying, as the adult females will have difficulty landing on small branches.
- Cicada season will last for only about 8 weeks, from early May through July. After this time, you can remove your netting.
Protect trees and bushes with ¼” hole opening, Cicada control netting. The branches of Apple Trees, Arborvitae, Ash, Beech, Berry vines, Crab Apple, Cherry, Dogwood, Fruit Trees, Grape vines, Hickory, Holly, Maple, Lilacs, Magnolia, Peach, Pear, Rose bushes, Spirea, and Willows are a few vulnerable varieties but cover others if you are concerned for their well-being.
If you have additional questions, or need cicada netting, feel free to contact us here at Meadow View. Stop in or give us a call at 937-845-0093. Happy gardening!
MVG – Helping Our Customers Grow Fine Plants Since 1984!