Tips For Avoiding Cicada Damage To Trees - Gardener's Path

A Choral Warning

In my childhood family, we referred to cicadas as locusts. However, that’s a misnomer, as they are an entirely different species in the Acrididae family of short-horned grasshoppers.

A close up horizontal image of three cicadas on the branch of a tree pictured on a green soft focus background.
Photo via Alamy.

When we heard the droning sound in the morning, we said it meant that the day was “going to be a hot one.” And, being July or August in the Philly suburbs, we were usually right.

When their chorus created a din in the spring, we said, “It’s going to be an early summer,” and maybe it was.

As quaint and hokey as that sounds, what’s worth noting is that these bugs were so loud we couldn’t help but notice them.

And how is this relevant, you ask?

Because regardless of the season or the species, when you hear the males crooning, the females haven’t laid their eggs yet, and there’s still time to protect the most vulnerable trees in your landscape.

What does the brood outlook look like in your area, and have you experienced an onslaught of these insects in the past? How did your plants fare? Share your stories with us in the comments!

And if you found this guide informative and want to learn about other pests and disease that may affect your trees, we suggest the following:

  • How to Protect Your Garden from Periodical Cicadas
  • How to Manage and Control Spotted Lantern Fly
  • How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Common Apple Diseases
  • Identify, Prevent and Treat Gummosis on Fruit Trees
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