Cicadas are known for their loud buzzing and sudden appearances, leaving many gardeners wondering if these insects pose a threat to their plants. If you’ve spotted cicadas near your garden, you might be asking yourself, “Will cicadas eat my garden?” Understanding their behavior can help ease your concerns and guide you in protecting your plants.
While cicadas do feed on plant sap, their impact on gardens is often minimal compared to other pests. Knowing what to expect and how to manage cicadas can make a big difference in keeping your garden healthy during their active seasons. Let’s dive into what cicadas really mean for your garden’s well-being.
Understanding Cicadas and Their Behavior
Cicadas affect your garden in specific ways tied to their biology and habits. Knowing their types, life cycle, and seasonal activity helps you anticipate their impact.
Types of Cicadas and Life Cycle
Cicadas fall into two main groups: annual cicadas and periodical cicadas. Annual cicadas emerge every year and live about 2 to 5 years underground before appearing as adults. Periodical cicadas appear in large numbers every 13 or 17 years, spending most of their lives underground feeding on root sap. Both types undergo three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Nymphs feed on tree roots underground, while adults feed on plant sap from twigs and branches. Adults use their sharp mouthparts to pierce plant material but rarely cause significant damage. Females lay eggs in small twigs causing some injury, particularly during mass emergences. Understanding this life cycle helps you prepare for cicada presence and anticipate the timing of their appearance.
Seasonal Appearance and Activity
Cicadas typically emerge in late spring through summer, depending on species and location. Annual cicadas appear in smaller numbers over multiple seasons. Periodical cicadas emerge simultaneously in massive swarms during specific years. Adult cicadas remain active around 4 to 6 weeks, focusing on mating and egg-laying. Most damage occurs when females cut slits in young branches for egg deposition. Sap feeding by adults poses minimal threat to mature plants but can stress young trees and shrubs. Knowing the seasonal window of cicada activity allows you to monitor and manage their impact in your garden more effectively.
Impact of Cicadas on Gardens
Cicadas interact with your garden plants mainly through feeding and reproduction. Their effect varies depending on plant type and cicada species.
Do Cicadas Eat Plants?
Cicadas feed on plant sap using specialized mouthparts. They pierce stems and branches but consume only fluids from the xylem. This feeding rarely harms mature plants or causes significant stress. You may notice some wilting or discoloration on tender growth if infestation is heavy, but the overall damage remains minimal compared to chewing insects or other pests.
How Cicadas Affect Trees and Shrubs
Adult female cicadas lay eggs by cutting slits into small, young branches. These egg-laying sites can cause twig dieback called “flagging,” which appears as browning and drooping tips. Young trees and shrubs suffer more because their branches are smaller and less capable of repairing damage. Mature trees usually withstand cicada egg-laying with little long-term effect. Root-feeding nymphs extract nutrients from tree roots but do not disrupt nutrient flow enough to harm plant health visibly. Monitoring fragile or recently planted trees during cicada emergence helps protect your garden’s vitality.
Protecting Your Garden from Cicadas
Protecting your garden from cicadas involves using focused methods that limit their impact on young and vulnerable plants. Understanding key strategies helps keep your garden healthy during cicada emergence.
Preventative Measures and Barriers
Use fine mesh netting or garden fabric to cover young trees and shrubs before cicadas emerge. Apply barriers early in the season, as cicadas lay eggs on new growth, which causes the most damage. Prune affected branches after egg-laying to reduce harm. Avoid planting highly susceptible species during peak cicada years. Monitor your garden daily to catch damage early before it spreads.
Organic and Chemical Control Options
Apply horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps to young plants when cicadas first appear; these substances disrupt egg-laying and reduce nymph survival. Use chemical insecticides only as a last resort and follow label instructions precisely. Target sprays to areas with heavy cicada activity to minimize environmental impact. Incorporate natural predators like birds and beneficial insects, which help reduce cicada populations without chemicals.
When to Worry About Cicada Damage
You can usually relax about cicadas, but some situations call for closer attention. Monitoring your garden helps identify when cicada activity might harm your plants.
Signs of Cicada Damage in Your Garden
Look for flagging, where small branches and twigs wilt, turn brown, and die after females cut egg slits. Noticeable leaf discoloration and wilting appear on young, tender growth under heavy cicada feeding. Eggs laid in clusters create rows of cuts, primarily on thin branches, leading to broken limbs. Nymph feeding underground rarely shows visible symptoms but can weaken young trees if infestations grow extremely dense.
Long-Term Effects on Plant Health
Mature trees and established shrubs recover quickly from cicada damage without lasting harm. Young or recently planted trees may experience stunted growth and structural weakness if egg-laying causes extensive flagging. Repeated cicada cycles could reduce vigor on highly susceptible species, especially in orchards or nurseries. You prevent long-term issues by pruning damaged branches promptly and protecting young plants during peak cicada emergence periods.
Conclusion
You don’t need to worry too much about cicadas destroying your garden. While they do feed on plants and lay eggs in branches, their impact is usually limited and manageable. By staying vigilant and protecting young or vulnerable plants, you can keep your garden healthy during cicada seasons.
Using simple barriers like mesh netting and pruning affected branches can make a big difference. Remember, mature plants typically bounce back quickly, so focus your efforts where it matters most. With the right approach, cicadas won’t stand in the way of your garden’s growth and beauty.
Hi, I’m Md Rofiqul, a gardening enthusiast who loves spending time in the garden and backyard. I enjoy caring for plants, growing flowers and vegetables, and creating a green space that feels peaceful and refreshing. Gardening is more than just a hobby, it’s a passion that connects me to nature and brings joy to my daily life. Living with plants inspires me to embrace simplicity, patience, and sustainability while making every day more colorful and rewarding.