Cicadas are known for their loud buzzing and sudden appearances, but you might wonder if they pose a threat to your garden. If you’ve noticed these insects around your plants, it’s natural to ask whether they’re munching on your garden’s leaves or stems. Understanding cicadas’ eating habits can help you protect your plants effectively.
While cicadas do feed, their diet mainly consists of plant sap rather than leaves or fruits. This means they don’t typically cause the kind of damage that other garden pests do. Still, their presence can sometimes impact young trees or shrubs during egg-laying. Knowing what cicadas really eat and how they interact with your garden will give you the insight you need to keep your plants healthy and thriving.
Understanding Cicadas and Their Behavior
Cicadas play a unique role in the garden ecosystem. Knowing their life cycle and feeding habits helps you assess their impact on your plants.
Cicada Life Cycle Overview
Cicadas spend most of their lives underground as nymphs, feeding on root sap for 2 to 17 years depending on the species. They emerge from the soil as adults during late spring to early summer. Adult cicadas live for about four to six weeks, during which they mate and lay eggs. Females insert eggs into small twigs or branches, causing minor damage primarily to young trees and shrubs. Understanding this cycle clarifies when cicadas pose the greatest risk to your garden.
Typical Feeding Habits of Cicadas
Adult cicadas feed by piercing plant stems with specialized mouthparts to suck sap. They prefer tree branches and stems over leaves or flowers. Nymphs feed on root xylem fluid underground but do not consume leaves or fruit. This sap-feeding habit means cicadas rarely cause significant direct damage to garden plants compared to chewing insects. Damage typically occurs during egg-laying, when repeated piercing weakens plant tissues. Recognizing these feeding habits guides you in protecting vulnerable plants effectively.
Do Cicadas Eat Garden Plants?
Cicadas feed primarily on plant sap but rarely cause severe harm to garden plants. Understanding which parts they target and the impact of their feeding helps you manage any potential issues.
What Parts of Plants Do Cicadas Target?
Cicadas target plant stems and branches, piercing them with sharp mouthparts to access sap. They avoid leaves and flowers, focusing mostly on woody tissues. Females insert eggs into small twigs or branch tips, creating slits that serve as egg chambers. Nymphs feed underground on root sap for years before emerging as adults.
Impact of Cicada Feeding on Garden Health
Cicada sap feeding causes minimal direct damage to mature plants because they consume only small amounts of fluid. The main concern lies in egg-laying, where repeated slicing of twigs and young branches can cause structural weakness, dieback, or reduced growth. Large cicada emergences may stress young trees or shrubs but rarely kill established plants. Monitoring vulnerable species helps maintain garden health during cicada activity.
Differences Between Cicada Nymphs and Adults in Plant Interaction
Cicada nymphs feed exclusively on root sap underground for 2 to 17 years, targeting plant root systems without causing visible damage above ground. You won’t see nymphs harming leaves, stems, or flowers since their interaction remains confined to feeding on deep roots. This prolonged sap extraction can weaken plants subtly but rarely leads to immediate or severe harm.
Adult cicadas interact with plants above ground by piercing stems and branches to suck sap during their 4 to 6-week lifespan. You’ll notice adults avoid leaves and flowers, focusing instead on woody parts that provide sap. Females impact plants more notably through egg-laying, cutting small slits in twigs, which may cause minor structural damage or twig dieback, especially in young or vulnerable trees and shrubs.
Both nymphs and adults feed on plant sap, but nymphs affect roots underground while adults target aerial parts. Damage from nymph feeding develops slowly and mostly goes unnoticed, whereas adults’ egg-laying can cause visible harm to certain garden plants during emergence events. Monitoring plant health during these stages helps you protect sensitive species effectively.
How to Protect Your Garden from Cicadas
Protecting your garden from cicada damage focuses on minimizing harm during their egg-laying period and monitoring vulnerable plants. Effective prevention balances natural deterrents with timely interventions.
Natural Deterrents and Preventive Measures
Use physical barriers such as fine mesh netting or garden fabric to cover young trees and shrubs before cicadas emerge. Apply the covering during late spring to early summer, the peak period for egg-laying. Planting cicada-resistant species—like dogwood, redbud, or maple—reduces risk since cicadas prefer certain hardwoods. Maintain plant health by watering deeply and mulching, enhancing resilience against stress from cicada feeding and egg-laying. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization, as it encourages tender growth attractive to cicadas. Prune and destroy infested twigs promptly to prevent egg hatch damage. Encourage natural predators such as birds and predatory insects by providing habitat and avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides.
When to Take Action
Monitor your garden closely during cicada emergence, especially from late spring through early summer. Intervene swiftly if you notice twig dieback or wilting on young trees and shrubs. Install protective netting before cicadas appear to reduce egg-laying damage effectively. Remove and destroy affected branches immediately to prevent spread. Chemical treatments may be necessary only for severe infestations on valuable young trees but rely on targeted insecticides to avoid harming beneficial insects. Act promptly during the egg-laying window, as cicada adults live for about four to six weeks. Your timely response ensures minimal long-term damage and maintains garden health.
Conclusion
You don’t need to worry much about cicadas eating your garden plants since their feeding habits cause minimal harm. The real risk comes from their egg-laying activity, which can affect young trees and shrubs. By staying vigilant during cicada season and protecting vulnerable plants, you can keep your garden healthy and thriving.
Taking simple preventative steps like using physical barriers and choosing resistant plant varieties will help you manage cicada impact effectively. With the right care and attention, your garden can coexist peacefully with these fascinating insects.
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.