Periodical Cicada Prepared by Eric Day, Doug Pfeiffer and Ed Lewis*

Entomology

2002 PUBLICATION 444-276W

Homoptera: Cicadidae The immature cicadas, called nymphs, do not feed on Magicicada sp. the twig where they hatch but drop to the ground and Other Common names burrow to the root system below the tree. Once Periodical cicadas are also commonly called the attached they stay on the root for 13 or 17 years until 17-year cicada, 13-year cicada, or locusts. The name the next emergence. “locust” is misleading because it applies to migratory grasshoppers. Cicadas are not poisonous and do not have a stinger. Communities and farms with large numbers of cicadas emerging from the ground often are beset with a sub- Plants Attacked stantial noise problem. Half of the population are In Virginia both the 17-and 13-year cicadas damage males "singing" or calling for the females. The annoy- many ornamental and hardwood trees. Oaks are com- ance from the singing is tempered by the fact that the monly attacked but the most seriously damaged are periodical cicadas are only out for 4-6 weeks once newly planted fruit and ornamental trees such as apple, every 17 years, but they can occur more frequently dogwood, peach, hickory, cherry, and pear. Pines and where broods overlap. other conifers are not commonly attacked. Non-woody plants sometimes will have cicadas resting Damage on the foliage but rarely receive damage. Damage caused by nymphs feeding on plant roots is considered very minor. The adults do not feed on the Identification upper portions of the tree after they emerge, but egg Most people are familiar with the dogday cicada that is laying by the female cicadas causes significant damage prevalent annually in mid summer. The dogday cicada to small twigs. The female places her saw-like egglay- is a mottled, dark green color and can be distinguished ing tube, called an ovipositor, into small branches and from the periodical cicada, which is about 1 - 1/2 inch- twigs that are about the diameter of a pencil. Twigs es long, black, with red eyes and orange legs. Adults will die because the branch is split when the eggs are have clear wings with distinctive orange veins. When placed under the thin bark. This dead twig contrasts viewed from the front the wings form an inverted "V" with the surrounding green foliage, a condition called and meet at the top like a roof. The periodical cicada, “flagging”. Young trees are the most severely dam- Magicicada spp., is in the Family Cicadidae and order aged by flagging because they have more branches of Homoptera. Immature cicadas are wingless, pale white the preferred size for egg laying by the cicada. to tan with a bulbous head and well-developed legs. Because they spend their entire life underground, they are rarely collected or observed.

* Extension Entomologists, Virginia Tech

Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, veteran status, national origin, disability, or political affiliation. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in further- ance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. J. David Barrett, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE Lorenza W. Lyons, Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State, Petersburg. AND STATE UNIVERSITY VT/WEB VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY Life Cycle dozen eggs can be laid in one cicadas from reaching the small In the common name,13-and 17- branch, with up to 400 eggs being tender twigs. Secure the netting year applies to the developmental laid by each female in 40 to 50 around the trunk to stop them from period required for the nymphs to sites. climbing up into the tree. Remove reach adulthood. Adults start the netting at the end of June. Cicada eggs remain in the twigs for appearing in Virginia in early May six to ten weeks before hatching. Remove flagging damage and with numbers peaking in early The nymphs do not feed on the destroy the clippings to reduce the June. Numbers decline by late June twigs. The newly hatched, ant-like number of nymphs that will estab- and most cicadas are gone by July. nymphs fall to the ground where lish on the roots of that tree. Periodical cicadas emerge in spe- they burrow 6 to 18 inches under- cific locations once every 17 years ground to feed. Spraying will give limited control in most of Virginia. In some of in commercial nurseries, as new the southern counties there are cicadas will fly in to replace the periodical cicadas that emerge individuals killed by the spray. once every 13 years. There are Scout trees every 2-3 days to seventeen broods of the 17-year check for egglaying activity and cicada and thirteen broods of treat as soon as it starts. Consult the 13-year cicada. Every year the current Virginia Pest they will emerge somewhere in Management Guide or the Spray the state. Some counties have Bulletin for Commercial Tree several broods in different loca- Fruit Growers for current chem- tions. Massive brood emergence ical recommended for control. is believed to overwhelm preda- tors, which are mostly birds. Insecticides in backyard plantings will give limited con- Immature periodical cicadas trol ,but often the sprays will (nymphs) develop underground cause worse problems. and feed on sap from plant Cicada Life Cycle Blooming trees and plants roots. After 13 or 17 years should not be treated as this may below ground, mature nymphs kill pollinating insects. Caution construct a mud turret called a should be used, as populations cicada hut and emerge from the of spider mites will often soil and climb onto nearby vegeta- Control Tactics increase after application of Sevin. tion or any vertical surface. They Periodical cicadas are most damag- then molt to the winged adult ing to small young trees that have Remarks stage. Their shed outer skins or the most desirable branch size for The dogday cicada is also called "exoskeletons" are frequently egg laying. Large, established trees the annual cicada or harvestfly. found attached to tree trunks and can often have large amounts of Dogday cicadas are related to the twigs. The emergence is often flagging but rarely suffer severe periodical cicada and are usually tightly synchronized, with most damage. adults appearing within a few associated with oaks, maples, and nights. Adult cicadas live for only Consult a Cicada map available other mature well established trees. two to four weeks. During this from a county Extension office and The dogday cicadas appear during short time, they feed relatively lit- avoid planting new fruit and orna- the long, summer days of July and tle and do not cause any severe mental trees in the same year as a August. These cicadas have two- to damage as they feed. Male cicadas predicted cicada emergence. The five-year life cycles, but their sing by vibrating membranes on cicada map in the current Spray broods overlap and some appear the sides of the first abdominal Bulletin for Commercial Tree Fruit every summer. Dog-day cicadas segment. Male courtship songs Growers (VCE Publication 456- are larger than periodical cicadas attract females for mating. Females 419) or this table that is provided and have brown- black bodies with are silent. After mating, females on the next page, the necessary whitish highlights and green wing lay their small eggs in twigs 1/4 to information. margins. Annual cicadas do not 1/2 inch in diameter. The female's ordinarily cause much damage. ovipositor slices into the wood and Newly planted trees can be cov- deposits the eggs. One to several ered with fine netting to keep the 2002 17 Year Cicada 2012 17 Year Cicada emergence map emergence map

2003 17 Year Cicada emergence map

2012 13 year Cicada emergence map

2004 17 Year Cicada emergence map

2013 17 Year Cicada emergence map

2007 17 Year Cicada emergence map

2015 17 Year Cicada emergence map

2008 17 Year Cicada emergence map

2016 17 Year Cicada emergence map

2011 17 Year Cicada emergence map

2017 17 Year Cicada emergence map 2011 13 year Cicada emergence map