Periodical Cicada

These large round holes in the ground are made by the nearly mature nymphs of the periodical cicada in the early spring. (Photo: R. Childs)
A nearly mature nymph of the periodical cicada. This is what made the exit holes in the ground in photo 1. (Photo: R. Childs)
A new periodical cicada adult on a daylily flower bud. Its recently molted "cast skin" still remains on the side of the plant and acts as a reminder of what the immature stage of this insect looked like. (Photo: R. Childs)
These periodical cicadas emerge in huge numbers, every 17 years. (Photo: R. Childs)
A mating pair of periodical cicadas. (Photo: R. Childs)
A female periodical cicada with her ovipositor ("egg-laying tube") inserted into the stem of an oak. (Photo: R. Childs)
Ovipositional (egg-laying) scars in an oak stem, caused by the female periodical cicada. (Photo: R. Childs)
A cut-away view of an oak stem showing the eggs that were deposited by the female periodical cicada (UMass Entomology Dept. teaching collection).
Browned and dead oak shoots that are a result of periodical cicada egg-laying. (Photo: R. Clark)

Pest: Periodical Cicada (Magicicada septendecim (Linn))
Order: Homoptera
Family: Cicadidae

Host Plants:

Primarily oaks (Quercus )

Description:

This specific cicada species appears every 17 years as an adult. Adult females lay eggs in the 2-3 year old stems of deciduous woody plants, especially oaks. It is this extensive oviposition that kills the shoots. It has long been believed that this is the only injury caused by these insects but in recent years there is evidence that the immatures in the soil may cause injury to landscape trees growing on stressful sites, such as in compacted soils. Egg-laying may kill many 2-3 year old shoots but, given a 17 year appearance cycle, this should not cause long term injury. However, previously stressed or very young trees may be severely injured or killed. Adults are about 1 1/2" in length and are the largest of the homoptera in the Northeast.

Life Cycle:

In mid-late June, adult females insert their long and sharp ovipositors deep in the 2-3 year old shoots of the host tree and lay 8-10 eggs, They continue to move down the stem repeating this process many more times. These eggs hatch in August and the newly emerged nymphs drop to the soil and burrow in to the root zone of the tree where they will feed on roots for the next 17 years. In the early spring (April) of the emergence year, the nearly mature nymphs will tunnel to the soil surface once the soil has thawed and warmed. Then they will go back down about a foot for another month. The purpose of tunneling to the surface in April is to construct an emergence hole while the soil is still moist. In early June, the nymphs will emerge, in large numbers, and crawl up onto any available surface that includes plant material and buildings. There, they will molt into the adult stage. During sunny days, the large number of males can be heard "singing" to attract a mate. This collective sound is perceived as a loud ringing noise to the human ear. After mating, the females then lay their eggs in the stems of deciduous plants. They will not be seen again, as adults, for the next 17 years.

Similar species are known as Dog Day Cicadas and take 2-5 years to reach maturation. These are seen (or heard as a loud buzz in the treetops) every summer on hot days, to a limited extent.

Management Strategies:

Cicadas and their host plants have been co-evolving for over a million years and their attack on the host every 17 years may appear severe, at the time of attack, but in reality it is only a "natural" pruning. As long as the host is healthy, these insects should have no detrimental effect on them. However, weak trees, young trees, or new transplants should be protected from oviposition. Small trees can be covered with a fine mesh material that precludes entrance by the females. Otherwise, a chemical pesticide may be required.

Written by: Robert Childs
Revised: 10/2011