Fidicina cicada

The genus Fidicina belongs to the family Cicadidae, within the order Hemiptera. These insects are well-known for their complex life cycles and the loud vocalizations of the males. In an agricultural context, they act as significant plant pests that impact woody perennial species, causing both direct and indirect harm to agricultural output.

Fidicina primarily affects tropical and subtropical crops, including coffee trees, cocoa, citrus, and various deciduous fruit trees. Their feeding habits are twofold: adults cause damage to the twigs and branches during egg-laying and feeding, while the nymphs residing underground feed on the roots, depriving the host plant of vital nutrients.

The life cycle of these cicadas is quite prolonged, often taking several years to complete, with the majority of the time spent in the soil as nymphs. Female cicadas use their ovipositors to insert eggs into the bark of twigs, which creates structural wounds that can lead to dieback. Once the eggs hatch, the nymphs move into the soil to begin their long subterranean stage.

Visible damage includes the wilting of terminal shoots, yellowing of foliage, and premature fruit drop. In cases of severe infestation, the cumulative effect of sap extraction and physical damage to the vascular system of the tree causes significant stunted growth, making the plants more susceptible to environmental stressors and opportunistic pathogens.

Effective management strategies for controlling Fidicina populations include:

• Systematic pruning of infested twigs to remove egg masses before hatching.
• Deployment of light traps to monitor and reduce adult cicada populations.
• Application of systemic insecticides when the emergence of adults is detected.
• Improving soil health and irrigation practices to help plants withstand root-feeding pressure.