Cicada Emergence 2024: Protecting Your Garden and Plants

Understanding Cicada Broods

A “brood” is a term that describes groups of cicadas based on their shared region and emergence schedule. Broods consist of many cicada species and populations. Because broods are regional, we can predict where they will emerge based on where they were last seen. It makes sense that 13 years later, we will see 13-year cicadas wherever they were previously sighted. However, where they hatch doesn’t necessarily mean that’s where they will spend all their time above ground, as they can fly and may travel. Watching 2024’s double emergence and determining if cicada regions will change brood-to-brood will be interesting.

For more info on cicada broods from the past, visit our 2021 Cicada Brood page.

Cicada emergences are end-of-life mating rituals that climax in a new generation of cicadas. After spending most of their life underground, they crawl up and fly to the sky, seeking to reproduce. The males attract a suitable female cicada mate through loud chirping.

Understanding Periodical Cicada Emergences

During periodical emergences, the cicada brood will be noisy, and you'll likely find shells scattered across your garden as they molt and shed their exoskeleton. All this raucous chirping is to attract a mate and lay new cicada eggs that hatch the next generational brood.

As the cicadas molt and leave their old skeletons around your yard and garden, you might hesitate to touch the discarded cicada shells. But remember, this casing is not the cicada itself; the remaining exoskeleton is like a shed skin. There is nothing dangerous about these cicada shells. If you are feeling adventurous, they are safe to eat. However, cicada casings are not nutrient-dense and will only contribute to the fiber in your diet.

Read about 2021’s 17-year cicada emergence (Brood X) to understand what to expect from a periodical emergence.

Understanding the impact of cicadas on gardens and plants is essential for minimizing potential damage during the emergence of these insects. Ultimately, your garden is mostly safe from cicadas. Unlike locusts, adult cicadas will not eat your plants. Young cicada nymphs, on the other hand, may sometimes feed by piercing plant roots and branches with their sharp mouthparts, causing damage to the vascular tissues and stunting growth. Fortunately, products like Dalen’s Pop-Net Protective Pest Screen can help keep cicada nymphs from feeding on your prized plants.

The real threat cicadas pose to your garden is when they “flag” your tree branches or, on rare occasions, bushes. During the mating ritual, females create cracks in weaker tree branches to lay eggs. The leaves die, and the branch hangs like a flag, hence the name “flagging.” If enough eggs are laid, the tree branch can naturally be pruned. Generally, cicada eggs aren’t something to worry about, but they can damage and kill your trees in extreme cases. While it's perfectly acceptable to let cicadas naturally select the weakest branches and prune your trees for you, there may be certain trees you want to protect.

It's worth reiterating that although cicadas may seem scary, they do not threaten anything besides a weak tree branch. They might annoy you with loud chirping, and their molted skeletons scattered around your home may be slightly disturbing. Otherwise, they are important to our ecosystem. Their emergence provides food for wildlife, including birds, mammals, and predatory insects. Cicada nymphs also contribute to soil aeration and nutrient cycling when they burrow underground. They can even do your trees a favor by breaking off the weakest limbs that ought to go. 

You can be outside during the 2024 cicada emergence, as these insects don’t bite or sting. But if you’d rather avoid insect encounters, you might want to stay inside for the 2024 double emergence!

This year’s double-emergence requires you to be proactive and informed. By implementing protective measures such as covering plants, pruning damaged foliage, and monitoring for signs of cicada activity, you can mitigate potential damage to your gardens, flowers, and plants.

It's important to strike a balance between cicada control efforts and environmental considerations, recognizing the ecological significance of these periodic insect phenomena. By respecting the role of cicadas in ecosystems and taking steps to protect both gardens and natural habitats, homeowners can coexist harmoniously with these fascinating insects. Stay vigilant, stay informed, and embrace the unique challenges and opportunities that cicada emergences present.