Cicada

The cicada (genus Cicada) belongs to the order Hemiptera and the family Cicadidae. While often recognized for their loud mating songs, these insects are significant pests in agricultural environments due to their feeding habits, which impact both woody plants and various agricultural crops.

Cicadas primarily attack fruit trees such as apples, pears, peaches, as well as vineyards and various ornamental shrubs. The injury is caused by both adults, which feed on the sap of branches, and by the females, which cause mechanical damage while laying their eggs inside the plant tissue.

The life cycle of a cicada is unique and highly prolonged, often spanning several years. After hatching, nymphs drop to the ground and burrow into the soil, where they spend the majority of their life cycle feeding on the xylem of tree roots. Once they reach maturity, they emerge from the soil to complete their metamorphosis into winged adults.

The economic damage caused by cicadas is twofold. First, the extensive sap-sucking leads to tree stress, reduced vigor, and lower yields. Second, the oviposition process creates deep wounds in young twigs, which frequently results in branch breakage, necrosis of the tips, and an entry point for various plant pathogens.

Effective management strategies for cicadas in an agricultural setting include:

• Pruning and removing infested branches to destroy egg clutches before they hatch.
• Applying systemic insecticides during the peak emergence period of nymphs.
• Using netting to protect young, vulnerable trees during mass emergence years.
• Encouraging biological control by supporting populations of birds and parasitic wasps.
• Monitoring soil conditions and root health to mitigate the impact of nymph feeding.