What is a Cicada?
First of all, you've probably heard the calling of these little critters, but may not have ever actually seen where all the noise is coming from. Cicadas are oval-shaped, winged insects that provide a buzzing and clicking song heard in nature throughout the summer. There are more than 3,000 species of cicadas, but only about 190 species are common in the United States.
1. Cicadas are Herbivores.
This means they eat vegetation. Young cicadas eat liquid from plant roots, while molting cicadas eat twigs. Adult cicadas do not feed, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture.
2. They have Unique Mating Calls.
The buzzing sound they make is a mating call. Male cicadas vibrate a white, drumlike membrane on their abdomens called a tymbal. A group of singing cicadas is called a chorus. The singing attracts both males and females to a certain area. The males join in on the singing and the females mate with the males.
3. Female Cicadas Lay from 200 to 600 Eggs.
After mating, the female cuts slits into the bark of a twig and deposits her eggs there. She may do so repeatedly, until she has laid several hundred eggs. When the eggs hatch, the newborn nymphs drop to the ground, where they burrow and start another cycle.
4. Cicadas are the Elders of the Insect World.
Cicadas can live a relatively long time: 4 to 17 years, depending on whether they are annual or periodical cicadas. The periodical cicadas live the longest. They spend most of their lives underground as larvae, followed by a short adulthood — from two to six weeks — above ground, according to the University of Michigan's Museum of Zoology.
5. There are Two Types of Cicadas.
Annual cicadas emerge every year in late June or August, while periodical cicadas emerge in cycles of 13 or 17 years, depending on the species. When periodical cicadas emerge, all the adults in a given location emerge at the same. Tens of thousands to over a million insects can reside in a relatively small area of land. A group of periodicals that emerge at the same time is called a brood.
Cicadas Are Amazing Critters!
As with any kind of insect you may see around your home, especially any unfamiliar ones, seeing a cicada might cause a bit of panic at first sight. However, we feel its important to share that cicadas are mostly beneficial. They prune mature trees, aerate the soil, and once they die, their bodies serve as an important source of nitrogen for growing trees. If you notice a buzzing song around your home and see these intriguing insects around, just let them be. They'll soon be finishing out their life cycle and are not harmful to you or your lawn.
While it is our job to provide pest control at the Lake of the Ozarks, it's also our duty to educate you on the insects that are not technically pests, but merely there. However, the next time you’re dealing with destructive pests, call up the best pest control service at the Lake of the Ozarks to take care of your pesky pest problems.
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