Emerald green and flashy with red-tinged eyes, cicadas are set to take center stage in their once-every-17-year performance across large tracts of the United States. With some insight and planning, the buzzing masses won’t hinder your adventures in the great outdoors. Check out these tips to help you prepare for the historic cicada season.
Understanding the Cicada Lifecycle
The arrival of cicadas is a grand event in the natural world, marking the end of a nearly two-decade-long period of underground slumber. Understanding this lifecycle is key to predicting their emergence. Brood X, one of the largest and most well-known groups of cicadas, will emerge in the spring of 2024.
These so-called periodical cicadas will spend several weeks buzzing, mating, and laying eggs before their offspring return underground. It’s best to stay updated on the latest scientific predictions, as their emergence can vary, sometimes by a couple of weeks due to weather patterns. By knowing when to expect the cicadas, you can better time your outdoor activities to minimize any disruptions they might cause.
Protecting Your Garden and Property
Cicadas are gentle creatures with a single-minded focus on breeding, but this does not prevent them from causing inadvertent damage. When they emerge, adult cicadas will seek trees to climb and shed their exoskeletons, leaving behind the empty shells clasped to bark.
Another tip to help you prepare for the historic cicada season is to cover smaller trees and garden beds with fine mesh or cheesecloth. This prevents the females from laying their eggs in branches, which can harm young trees by forcing small slits for the eggs to reside. Additionally, be mindful to mow your lawn more frequently during the cicada season. Overgrown grass can create a haven for their activity, which might lead to paths of destruction in your yard.
Planning Outdoor Activities Wisely
One certainty regarding cicadas is that their chorus can be deafening. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast who values the peace and quiet of nature, especially during activities like birdwatching or hikes requiring concentration, plan your outings accordingly.
Mornings tend to be quieter as cicadas warm up, with the symphony reaching its peak in the late afternoon and evening as temperatures cool. Plan your more serene activities for the earlier hours or consider enjoying the cicada spectacle as part of a new kind of outdoor adventure.
Dealing With Cicadas Responsibly
While cicadas are not known to sting or bite, their sheer numbers can be overwhelming. It’s natural to find them curious, especially for kids and pets, so explain to your children the importance of letting these gentle insects go about their business. After all, their lifespan above ground is only a few weeks.
Supervise pets to prevent them from eating too many cicadas, which can lead to digestion issues. Lastly, resist using chemical pesticides or insecticides to control the cicada population. These measures are not only ineffective but can also be harmful to the broader ecosystem.
If you’re planning a road trip this spring, an RV bug screen from The Bug Wall will allow you to enjoy the outdoors without cicadas flying into your vehicle. Our screens are made from quality materials and offer the protection you crave. Browse our selection to find the perfect way to prepare yourself for this year’s historic cicada season.
