Quick Q&A About the 2024 Cicada Invasion

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Let’s get a big problem out of the way first; No, your garden veggies will most likely not be eaten or destroyed. However, here are some answers to common questions about this very rare biological event, happening this spring.

1. What is the rare 2024 cicada emergence this spring?
Answer: For the first time since 1803, two broods of cicadas (17 year brood and 13 year brood) will emerge by the billions when ground temperatures reach 64 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cicadas can’t harm humans, they don’t bite or sting. However, females pose a risk to young trees and saplings by creating slits in branches to lay more eggs. Many species of tree aren’t able to weather this process.

2. When is this expected to happen?
Answer: They are predicted to emerge from May to June. In a previous brood hatching that occurred in 2004, the earliest emerged in Mid- April, then the other half of the brood came out in mid- to late May and some stragglers waited until the first week of June.

3. Where will they emerge?
Answer: Brood XIII is expected to emerge in 5 states: IL, IA, IN, MI, and WI.

Brood XIX is expected to emerge in 15 states: AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, and VA.

4. What do the cicadas eat?
Answer: Cicadas get all their nutrients from tree xylem, a watery sap that contains minerals and amino acids.

5. Will cicadas wreck my trees?
Answer: Female cicadas may make slits and lay eggs in small tree branches – posing a risk to younger tender trees that may be unable to weather the process, so if you have young trees on your property, you may need to take precautions.

Triazicide concentrate protects lawns, trees and shrubs with a fast-acting formula that controls insects above and below ground. It controls more than 260 listed insects by contact, including periodical and annual cicadas.

6. How can I protect my trees and lawn against the invasion?
Answer: The following products are effective against cicadas and are available in store or online.

Cutter Backyard Bug Control Insect Killer Liquid Concentrate 32 oz.

Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer Liquid Concentrate 40 oz.

Spectracide Triazicide for Lawns Insect Killer Liquid Concentrate 32 oz.