05/07/2021
There has been a lot of buzz about cicadas in the news, but we here at Lake SWCD have noticed a few falsehoods circulating. Over the next week or so we will be setting some things straight about these wild, wonderful and somewhat mysterious critters.
Cicadas are not harmful pests.
Are they loud? Yes.
Are they sometimes annoying? Yes.
Are they going to bite or sting you? No.
More about cicada mouths and bites
Cicadas don't have mouthparts to bite, sting or chew. Instead they have a rostrum or beak which is like a straw and is designed for sucking liquid out of plant roots and twigs. For the majority of their lives (the 16.75 years they are underground) they use their rostrum to suck the fluid out of plant roots. While molting into their adult form, they may suck sap out of tree and shrub twigs. If a cicada lands on you and "bites" you it isn't because it is vicious and attacking you, it is because it thinks you are a tree. 🌳🌳🌳 What a compliment! 😍
The website cicadamania.com has a lot of great articles about periodical cicadas. If you aren't thrilled with cicadas landing on you, one recommendation they make is to avoid using yard implements that make loud vibration noises if you are in an area with a lot of cicadas. The females may mistake you with your w**d whip for a male cicada. 😜
Also, if you aren't thrilled to be sharing space with cicadas remember that this is a very minor inconvenience for 5-6 weeks every 17 years.
https://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/do-cicadas-bite-or-sting/
https://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/what-do-cicadas-eat/#:~:text=The%20cicada's%20mouth%20parts%20(aka,plants%20and%20drink%20their%20sap.
Stay tuned to future posts for more information about cicadas and your garden.
There has been a lot of buzz about cicadas in the news, but we here at Lake SWCD have noticed a few falsehoods circulating. Over the next week or so we will be setting some things straight about these wild, wonderful and somewhat mysterious critters.
Cicadas are not harmful pests.
Are they loud? Yes.
Are they sometimes annoying? Yes.
Are they going to bite or sting you? No.
More about cicada mouths and bites
Cicadas don't have mouthparts to bite, sting or chew. Instead they have a rostrum or beak which is like a straw and is designed for sucking liquid out of plant roots and twigs. For the majority of their lives (the 16.75 years they are underground) they use their rostrum to suck the fluid out of plant roots. While molting into their adult form, they may suck sap out of tree and shrub twigs. If a cicada lands on you and "bites" you it isn't because it is vicious and attacking you, it is because it thinks you are a tree. 🌳🌳🌳 What a compliment! 😍
The website cicadamania.com has a lot of great articles about periodical cicadas. If you aren't thrilled with cicadas landing on you, one recommendation they make is to avoid using yard implements that make loud vibration noises if you are in an area with a lot of cicadas. The females may mistake you with your w**d whip for a male cicada. 😜
Also, if you aren't thrilled to be sharing space with cicadas remember that this is a very minor inconvenience for 5-6 weeks every 17 years.
https://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/do-cicadas-bite-or-sting/
https://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/what-do-cicadas-eat/#:~:text=The%20cicada's%20mouth%20parts%20(aka,plants%20and%20drink%20their%20sap.
Stay tuned to future posts for more information about cicadas and your garden.
