This spring, cicadas will emerge along the East Coast after 17 years underground. These friendly bugs are causing a lot of buzz — and not just because of the drum-like “love song” that male cicadas make to attract females.
Cicadas are a boon to the local ecosystem. Cicada nymphs construct chimney-like tunnels as they emerge, naturally aerating the soil even better than earthworms do. The tunnels remain, allowing more water to reach trees’ roots.
Female cicadas dig tiny trenches in young tree branches and lay their eggs inside. This natural form of pruning results in trees producing more fruit, blossoms or acorns the following year. Homeowners who are concerned can protect young hardwood trees or fruit trees that are less than 5 feet tall by wrapping branches with pond netting or spun polyolefin. Adult cicadas consume liquid from trees, so they are not a threat to vegetable and flower gardens. After a month, cicadas die, and their bodies become a nitrogen- and potassium-rich fertilizer. We can protect our animal companions from eating cicadas by keeping cats indoors and taking dogs for leashed walks — which we should always do anyway for their safety.
For more tips on living in harmony with wildlife, visit PETA.org.
Jodi Minion
Wildlife Biologist
People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals
Norfolk, Va.