BROOD X IS UPON US: 17-year Cicadas Here Through June

(Posted Jun. 2, 2021) It’s that time of year again… our boisterous, prolific bug friends of Brood X are back!

By now you’ve surely noted that the cicadas are upon us, but what you might not know is that there are a number of different types of cicadas, or broods, each of which emerge from the ground on different cycles, Brood X being the variety that is currently converging on Northern Virginia.

What prompts cicadas and the emergence phase of their clockwork 17-year lifespan? The insects are hardwired to remain dormant until soil temperatures reach 64 degrees, at which point, nymph cicadas emerge, shed their skins, lay their eggs and return to dormancy for another 17 years. While it may seem like an eternity that you’re finding cicadas underfoot, the above-ground phase of their lifespan typically only lasts 4-6 weeks; and their noisy presence also serves an ecological purpose. Cicadas aerate the soil as they emerge, prune trees while aboveground, and serve as a natural, nitrogen- and protein-rich fertilizer and food source when they die.

What do you need to know about cicadas? First and foremost that they are completely harmless to humans and do not bite or sting. Second, consider keeping chemicals out of the food chain and avoiding the use of pesticides when it comes to cicadas.

Finally, keep an eye on your trees, particularly younger and/or newly planted specimens. The sheer number of cicadas that will be making their homes in our trees can result in twig dieback or “flagging” (individual branches browning and dying throughout the crown of a tree). Vulnerable trees can be protected by securing a fine mesh netting, 3/8-inch holes or smaller, around the crown. You may also wish to postpone your planting schedule to the fall.

Otherwise, hang tight. Just a few more weeks to dormancy for our noisy friends… until 2038