Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
This year has been known by many experts as the “Year of the Cicadas.” Periodical cicadas emerge from underground after certain periods of time, but this year, two broods are emerging during the same period for the first time since 1803. That could reportedly lead to the possibility of over one trillion cicadas being produced.
According to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, periodical cicadas are insects spending most of their lives underground as nymphs, feeding off the sap of tree roots. The Northern Illinois Brood has a 17-year life cycle, and the Great Southern Brood has a 13-year cycle. The two broods started emerging from underground in the midwest and southeast.
Vicki Garner discussed cicadas during a recent episode of Gardening in the Ozarks on KTLO-FM, and she they can be harmful to various plants.
Listen:
Cicadas are not expected to ruin a garden by eating its contents, but Garner says there are still preventative measures some might consider to keep other plants from getting damaged.
Listen:
While cicadas are pests that will multiply this year, they will not bite humans.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI