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The Cicadas are coming... By Clifford S. Sadof, Purdue University Extension Entomologist and Michelle Boswell The cicadas are coming. Well, technically, they are already here but will soon emerge from the ground. More than a billion are expected to take to the skies across parts of the United States. Brood X is one of 15 broods of periodical cicadas that emerge from the ground regularly throughout the eastern United States. They are also known as the 17 or 13year locusts. And if the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020 wasn’t enough, Brood X (10) are about the make their way out of the soil and into Indiana skies by late May and into June. They have black bodies, redtoned legs and are anywhere from one and half to two inches in length. Even if you do not’ see them, it is easy to tell when they emerge because of the high-pitched, shrill sound the males make. While females do not have the noise-making organ (which are membranes that vibrate on the underside of their abdomen), females have a sharp organ to cut open woody twigs to lay eggs. Six weeks after the eggs are laid, the cicadas will hatch into a form called a nymph. A nymph is a smaller version of the adult insect. Although they do not have wings, they do have a
Vol. 2, No. 8
See where Cicadas will emege in Indiana and surrounding states on the map - Page 2 thin exoskeleton. Nymphs will drop to the ground and burrow into the soil and begin eating sap from tree roots. As the nymph grows larger, the exoskeleton becomes too small and must be replaced with a larger one which is done through a process called molting. They come out of the old exoskeleton and the new one is skin that hardens. This will take place over and over until it reaches adult size. While cicadas are underground, they feed on tree sap and juices from the roots. After 17 years of being underground, the cicadas will come to the surface, climb up tree trunks, fences or whatever is nearby, shed their exoskeleton and enter the world with wings. They will live about one month and begin the life cycle all over again by finding a mate and laying anywhere from 400 to 600 eggs. They will begin to feed on plant juices and that is when minimal
damage takes place to some plant life. Plants cicada feed on that could suffer some damage locally are: Maples, Serviceberry, Chestnut, Apple, Crabapple, Katsura tree, Redbud, Fringe tree, Dogwood, Cotinus, Cotoneaster, Hawthorn, Cockspur, Ash, Witch-hazel, Hophornbeam, Sourwood, Cherries, Peaches & Plums, Oaks, Roses, Mountain Ash, Basswood, Elmwood and Weigela. Those at a lower risk for damage are: Hollies, Golden chain tree, Cork tree, Birch, Hornbeam, Magnolia and Cedar. Ways to control the damage to trees and plants are to delay pruning until cicadas disappear. Once they stop flying, the damaged branches can be trimmed. Shrubs and trees under 10 ft. tall can be covered in ½ inch mesh screening for the six weeks cicadas are expected. It is also recommended to wait planting trees and plants that could be damaged by cicada until after they have come and gone. Pesticides can be used but not recommended for large trees. Clifford S. Sadof, Purdue University Extension Entomologist says, “If you choose to use pesticides to protect your small trees, you will need to apply them every three to four days to prevent injury or every seven to ten days to reduce See Brood, Page 2
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Cicada eggs inside a twig.
Adult Cicadas after emerging from exoskeleton.
Damage to a twig by the female Cicada. Photos by J. Obermeyer