Let's talk gardening and cicadas

[Anonymous]

I’m really excited to see the cicadas. We were in an apartment the last time and moved into a house right after they disappeared. We live in an old neighborhood with lots of mature trees and zero new construction so I’m hoping there will be plenty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are they susceptible to ortho?

What is ortho?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are they susceptible to ortho?

What is ortho?

PP wants to kill the harmless bugs that take 17 years to live a short life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cicadas begin life as a rice-shaped egg, which the female deposits in a groove she makes in a tree limb, using her ovipositor. The groove provides shelter and exposes the tree fluids, which the young cicadas feed on. These grooves can kill small branches. When the branches die and the leaves turn brown, it is called flagging.

Once the cicada hatches from the egg it will begin to feed on the tree fluids. At this point, it looks like a termite or small white ant. Once the young cicada is ready, it crawls from the groove and falls to the ground where it will dig until it finds roots to feed on. It will typically start with smaller grass roots and work its way up to the roots of its host tree. The cicada will stay underground from 2 to 17 years depending on the species. Cicadas are active underground, tunneling, and feeding, and not sleeping or hibernating as commonly thought.

After the long 2 to 17 years, cicadas emerge from the ground as nymphs. Nymphs climb the nearest available vertical surface (usually a plant) and begin to shed their nymph exoskeleton. Free of their old skin, their wings will inflate with fluid (haemolymph) and their adult skin will harden (sclerotize). Once their new wings and body are ready, they can begin their brief adult life.

Adult cicadas also called imagoes, spend their time in trees looking for a mate. Males sing (or otherwise vibrate the air or their surroundings), females respond, mating begins, and the cycle of life begins again.




What can you do? Probably nothing. The biggest problem is not the Cicada's emerging but rather the new Cicadas feeding on plant juice and roots. My solution is to attract a lot of birds in the backyard by putting seeds and birdbaths. I am expecting them to make a meal of the Cicadas. Also putting some blue bird nests too. Hopefully we will see some bluebirds take full time residence in our backyard.

You know the periodic cicadas evolutionary strategy is to overwhelm predators by producing such a high number of cicadas at one time that the predators get too full to eat any more? So attracting birds to your yard to eat or make a significant reduction numbers of cicadas will not work.

[Anonymous]

I just want to say: I can't wait for Brood X! They are so cool.

Last time, I don't remember much damage to things. But most of our plants/shrubs/trees are all established.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are they susceptible to ortho?

What is ortho?

PP wants to kill the harmless bugs that take 17 years to live a short life.

They’re alive the whole time though.

[Anonymous]

Cicadas are not a major threat to trees, and I say that as someone with an orchard. Just enjoy the rare show of mother nature while we still have some left.

If you really want to protect small trees the best approach is to cover them in insect barrier netting, Ag Fabric makes bags for trees. (this is how I will protect my newest trees)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because spraying cicadas is different than having mosquito squad spray your yard?

I don't do either one, but I also wouldn't call you a psycho for making a different choice.

[Anonymous]

Mosquitoes bite people and spread disease. The cicadas are harmless and active for a few weeks every 17 years. You have to be a pretty big turd to go out of your way to kill them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are they susceptible to ortho?

But I’ll bet you recycle, drive a hybrid, eat only organic, believe in human-caused climate change and think you’re doing your part to save the planet, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my experience the 17-year locusts do no harm to your trees. I've been around for several rounds at this point. They come out of the ground, they sing, and they leave their exoskeletons everywhere. The tips of large trees die off, but in one of the previous rounds someone in a newspaper said the trees are adapted to this and it doesn't harm them. I've never seen a tree killed by locusts? Children are absolutely entranced by them. They're everywhere. Everywhere. But it's a short period of time, and it ends. I find myself curiously sorry to see them disappear once again.

And dogs think they are delicious. Like chicken nuggets...

[Anonymous]

So, if we planted crepe myrtles and japanese maples last fall, we should net them, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience the 17-year locusts do no harm to your trees. I've been around for several rounds at this point. They come out of the ground, they sing, and they leave their exoskeletons everywhere. The tips of large trees die off, but in one of the previous rounds someone in a newspaper said the trees are adapted to this and it doesn't harm them. I've never seen a tree killed by locusts? Children are absolutely entranced by them. They're everywhere. Everywhere. But it's a short period of time, and it ends. I find myself curiously sorry to see them disappear once again.

And dogs think they are delicious. Like chicken nuggets...

Yes my dog loves them. My cat catches them for her, and then she eats them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mosquitoes bite people and spread disease. The cicadas are harmless and active for a few weeks every 17 years. You have to be a pretty big turd to go out of your way to kill them.

Agreed. Jesus. Just leave them alone. They're harmless. And you and your plants will survive the few weeks they are around. Been there and done that. We all, plants and people alike, survived.

[Anonymous]

BTI is better for mosquitoes. Stick the donuts in your gutters and ponds and you will be fine.

As for cicadas: you just reminded me to go in my attic and seal everything up. Sigh.