As a gardening and landscape gardening expert , I am often asked about the impingement of cicadas on plants and whether it is necessary or good to defeat them . Let me start by say that it is loosely not recommend to pour down cicadas . Cicadas are harmless to world , pets , house gardens , and crops . They diddle a unique and important role in the ecosystem and have been around for one thousand thousand of class .
Periodical cicada , specifically , are fascinating tool . The adults are typically around 1 - 1.5 inch long , with a wingspread twice that length . Their bodies are bleak , adorned with large red - chocolate-brown eyes , and they have membranous wings with orangish vena . Observing these insect can be a captivate experience , specially during their periodic emergence every 13 or 17 years .
One of the main reason it is not advisable to belt down cicadas is that they do not mystify any verbatim threat to works or humans . Unlike other pests such as aphid or cat , cicadas do not run on leave of absence or damage plant . They in the main tip on tree fluids , using their pierce - sucking mouthpart to extract nutrient . This feeding behavior does not have pregnant damage to industrial plant , and the modest puncture wounds they create typically bring around quickly .
In fact , cicadas can even benefit flora indirectly . When distaff cicadas lie their eggs , they make small slit in tree limb , which can advance new increment . This can lead to increased branching and overall tree health . Additionally , the holes leave behind behind by go forth cicadas can provide entry distributor point for good organism like fungi and bacteria , which can contribute to the disintegration of organic matter and nourishing cycling .
Another cause to avoid kill cicada is the ecological use they play . cicala are an important food generator for many birds , reptilian , and mammal . They are a born part of the food for thought chain and lead to the biodiversity of an ecosystem . Removing cicadas from the surroundings disrupts this ticklish balance and can have unintended outcome on other species .
It ’s important to note that if you do encounter a large number of cicala in your garden or thou during their emersion time period , they will finally kick the bucket off on their own . Their life-time as adults is relatively short , typically go only a few calendar week . Instead of resort to killing them , consider taking some simple measures to minimize any inconvenience they may get .
For example , you could use net or barrier to protect young or vulnerable plants from cicadas . give insecticides is broadly speaking not recommend , as it can have unintended negative effect on beneficial insects and other wildlife . It ’s skilful to let nature take its course of instruction and allow the cicala to complete their life cycles/second .
Killing cicala is not necessary or beneficial . They are harmless to humankind , pets , gardens , and crop . or else of reckon them as cuss , appreciate their unique life cycle and the ecological office they play . By understanding and coexisting with cicadas , we can further a healthy and more diverse ecosystem in our gardens and landscapes .
Caroline Bates
