THE BUGYMAN EXTERMINATORS

Cicada         Order Homoptera        

Appearance:

        Adult cicadas are stocky insects with prominent eyes and semi-transparent wings which fold against the body. They are 1 - 1 5/8 inches in length. Brown-black or greenish. Sometimes yellow on thorax and mouthparts. The wings are a brownish green.

Habitat:

        Around treas and other natural habitat.

Food:

        Adults do not eat. Nymphs feeds on juices from roots

Life Cycle:

        Gradual metamorphosis. Cicadas, also known as 'locusts', appear as adults in May and June, and crawl up into host trees to mate. After mating, the female cicada uses a knife-like organ to slit or puncture twigs of woody plants. She then lays eggs in the slits. In about 6 weeks the eggs hatch and the nymphs drop to the ground. They then dig into the soil and begin feeding by sucking sap from the tree roots. After approximately 3 years, the nymphs come out of the ground. They crawl up tree trunks, posts, or other objects; shed their last exoskeleton and emerge as adult, winged cicada. These adults live about one month. During this time they mate, and each female lays from 400 to 600 eggs.

General Information:

        Cicadas make a high-pitched, shrill sound which announces there presence to other cicadas. Only the male can make this sound to attract the females. The noise is produced from vibrating membranes on the underside of the first abdominal segment. Females can damage ornamental trees and shrubs by puncturing limbs and twigs when preparing egg-laying sites. Branches often die after being weakened by cicada egg-laying.

Cicada Management:

Applications to lawns and up trees and shrubbery is necessary. Refer to the standard Service Program outlined under Service Programs. The benefits of service will show beginning after two to three years from the first application.

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Last modified: November 24, 1997