Message about Cicadas from Waverly ACE

Our friends at the Waverly ACE Hardware store posted this helpful set of advise on their Facebook page recently. I thought it was great advice so I’m adding it here for you as well. If you are on Facebook, you can see the post here.

THEY'RE HERE. These clumsy winged teenagers can be found climbing your plants, latching onto your curbs, and littering your lawns. We want to remind our customers of a few important facts regarding cicada Brood X:

① Cicadas are harmless- they do not bite, sting, or prick. They're not poisonous, but don't let your pets eat them- their exoskeletons can cause some serious BM issues. What they are is REALLY BAD AT FLYING so be prepared for a few collisions while walking around.

② They're not after your plants- they've been snacking on tree roots for the past 17 years and really don't eat at all once they've emerged (wouldn't you be full?). Females will lay their eggs in pencil sized branches, so if you have a small tree you might want to protect it with some netting. A good rule of thumb- if your tree is over 3 years old, or you need a ladder to put up netting, you probably don't need to do anything.

③ Pesticides will not do anything except harm the environment, your pets (who might inadvertently eat one covered in chemicals), and other insects- there are literally billions, so there's no point in trying to kill them. In other words, DO NOT USE PESTICIDES!

④ They aren't singing yet, but when they do, it's LOUD- up to 100 decibels, roughly equivalent to standing next to a lawnmower. Maybe invest in some earbuds?

⑤ They're great for compost! When they die, just mix them into your compost bin, spread them out before a layer of mulch in the garden, mix them into a planter, or just toss 'em.

⑥ They're only here for a few weeks- if you don't fixate on the fact that they're big bugs, they're actually quite attractive. This is an evolutionary miracle- enjoy it while it lasts!