Cicadas are large insects made conspicuous by the courtship calls of the males. They are characterized by having three joints in their tarsi and having small antennae and large red eyes. Cicadas are not poisonous. Cicadas do not sting or bite. Cicadas are not deft at flying, they may accidentally fly into you. Cicadas are beneficial to other animals, like snakes, squirrels, some birds, and spiders; they eat them for protein. Cicadas are mostly beneficial. They prune mature trees, aerate the soil, and once they die, their bodies serve as an important source of nitrogen for growing trees. And they are ready to emerge in our area this year.
Brood X
Brood X, a group of 17-year cicadas in the Tri-state is expected to include billions or more. 2021 is the year of Brood X. These cicadas were eggs in 2004, went into the ground, have been developing for 17 years, and this is their year to come out. They are due to emerge between May and June. Cicadas spend most of their lives burrowed, slowly maturing until they all emerge at once, breed, and die.
Reasons Why Most People Don’t Like Cicadas
Cicadas damage the landscape. The female cicadas drill holes into slender tree branches, where they then lay their eggs. A female will lay as many as 600 eggs. Because of the sheer numbers of periodical cicadas, heavy egg-laying may result in twig die-off or ‘flagging’ in young branches. To protect younger or vulnerable trees, cover them with netting to keep the cicadas away. If the weather is consistently warm and dry, the cicadas will finish their mating activities sooner than later, which would mean a shorter season. Their lifespan is four to six weeks. If you are mowing the lawn you are susceptible to attracting cicada. They will land on you so be sure to do your chores during times that cicadas are less active. Cicadas are least active at nighttime when they are most likely up in the trees, and early in the morning when the temperature is cooler.
How to Cleanup After Cicadas
Yard clean-up may be a frequent and continuous chore. You should work fast in cleaning up the deceased cicadas to avoid any potential scent. Strangely, some people have compared the smell of rotting cicada carcasses to hamburger meat, so try to start clean-up before any unwanted scents begin to appear. Yes, fallen cicadas can make their way into your roof’s gutters, too. While this can be an annoyance, a clogged-up gutter can also cause more problems than just rainwater blockage—it can lead to serious water damage to your home’s walls and foundation. While cicadas aren’t necessarily looking to take a swim, cicadas may make their way into your pool or hot tub. To prevent this from happening in the first place, throw on your pool cover or hot tub cover. Use a nylon pool brush to scrub the walls and ladders in your pool of any stuck-on debris.
Need Some Help? Give A&A a Call!
Contact Us (859-384-0266) for a Free Consultation!
Get an Instant Quote
—
About A & A Lawn Care & Landscaping
A & A Lawn Care & Landscaping can beautify your lawn and landscaping using our vast experience in turf grass management. Our complete lawn service is designed for both residential and commercial lawns and we keep your lawn healthy without harming your family, staff, or pets.