[Occasional Invaders] Blight or Boon?

If you are located in the central states of the Eastern U.S., you may feel
you are in the midst of a plague of almost Biblical proportions. Fortunately, however, these are not locusts; unfortunately, there is little you can do about them. A locust is a type of grasshopper; the insect currently taking over a number of eastern U.S. states is actually Brood X of the 17-year periodical cicada, Magiccicada spp. (See related story below.)

For almost two decades, these cicadas have been living underground as nymphs, feeding on the sap of plant roots and developing to maturity. After 17 years, at the first ground thaw of 64 degrees, the periodical cicadas emerge. The unique and fascinating characteristic of this insect is that all the cicadas of the brood — up to 1.5 million per acre — emerge from their nymphal homes, not over a season or even a couple weeks. Rather, the entire brood emerges within a few nights of each other.

While there are 12 broods of the 17-year cicada, 2004’s Brood X is the largest. Scherzinger Pest Control Technical Director Bery Pannkuk was around during Brood X’s last emergence in 1987, and has spent the last couple months preparing, once again, for the onslaught. "It’s amazing," he said. "We expect more than 70 billion cicadas in Cincinnati alone."

The difficulty with this insect for PCOs is the fact that there is little to nothing they can do about it. Few pesticides are specifically labeled for periodical cicadas, and, because they are contact pesticides, a large area would need to be treated. This means an inordinate amount of time, chemical and cost — with very little effect.

"Treating a yard or house is like buying $100 worth of lottery tickets to buy down the odds," Pannkuk said. "It is an inappropriate use of pesticides, which could have more detrimental effects." In addition, Pannkuk said, "The cicada is not regarded as a pest. Its only true damage is flagging."

DAMAGE. Flagging is the appearance of brown, dead branches among the otherwise green, healthy limbs of a tree. The flagging is caused by the egg-laying habits of the female cicada. The female inserts her ovipositor into a small branch or twig, slitting it to lay her eggs under the bark. She lays 10 to 14 eggs at a time, with up to 400 eggs laid altogether. A series of slits on a single branch can weaken it enough to split or die.

Cicadas are attracted to ornamental and hardwood trees, particularly oak and fruit trees. The males gather in the branches and "sing" to attract the females. After mating, the female finds a suitable branch — preferring those that are young and soft, therefore easier to penetrate — and slits the twig to lay her eggs.

"If the female makes enough slits, it will cause the twigs to die," Pannkuk said. "Most trees will just get a really good pruning. But for trees that are less than 15 feet, it can cause death to the tree." To protect endangered young or small trees, mechanical prevention is recommended.

CONTROL. Preventive measures should include:

• Wherever possible, recommend that your customers postpone plantings of new trees and shrubs until late summer, fall or even next year to completely avoid cicada contact.

• Cover existing small trees with netting. Nylon or cheesecloth with mesh of no less than ¼ inch can be placed over the branches of the trees from May through June. Once the cicadas are gone from the area, the netting can be removed.

• Prune and destroy any branches or twigs damaged by the cicada egg laying. This should be done within four to six weeks of the activity to prevent nymphs from developing, thereby reducing the population of the next emergence of this brood.

THE UPSIDE. Although it may seem difficult to believe there are any positives to this scourge, the insect can actually benefit both your business and the environment.

"We are planning to take the high road on treatment," Pannkuk said of Scher-zinger’s strategy. Pannkuk has had several interviews and appearances with the media; the company’s pest management professionals are discussing the emergence with their customers and local groups, such as schools and churches that tend to have outdoor activities; and its management has been proactive in instructing all employees on customer communication.

"Empathize with the customer," Pannkuk said. "Say ‘Yes, the cicadas are terrible, but there’s nothing we can do. We just have to live with them.’"

The purpose, he said, is to educate the public that the periodical cicadas are simply "a phenomenon of nature" that will soon be gone — and will leave some environmental benefits in their wake. In addition to the beneficial pruning of the larger trees through flagging, the cicadas can be lauded as a natural source of aeration and protein. "Cicadas provide unbelievable soil aeration, with up to 100 emergent holes per square yard," Pannkuk said. "Most mammals will eat the cicadas, and have a huge source of protein."

Any pest management company can use this unique phenomenon to market its services and generate additional business. As the emergence brings an abundance of cicadas, it also brings an increased awareness of the pest control industry. Being proactive, telling your customers about the cicadas before they tell you, and educating them on the lifecycle, preventive measures, and benefits of this insect can be a real boon to your customer relations. And, it can provide just the opportunity you’ve sought to open the door and discuss the other services your company can provide.

The author is a freelance writer from Champlin, Minn. She can be reached via e-mail at llupo@pctonline.com.