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5-21-2003 |
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PERIODICAL CICADA EMERGING IN SOME WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES According to Agriculture Commissioner Gus R. Douglass, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) has been receiving reports that the periodical cicada emergence in southern and southeastern West Virginia has taken place. The cicadas, also known as 17-year locusts, are part of Brood IX and made their last appearance in 1986. They should be present in lower Kanawha, Nicholas, Webster and Pocahontas Counties, the extreme eastern part of Wyoming and McDowell Counties, in most of Fayette, and throughout all of Raleigh, Greenbrier, Summers, Mercer and Monroe Counties. Tree damage will occur from the cicadas when the females cut two parallel slits in small twigs where they lay 24-28 eggs. Sometimes a continuous slit 2 to 3 inches long is formed as they slowly make their way up a twig. The slits cause "flagging", or breakage, to the tips of the branches. The eggs hatch in mid-summer and young cicadas, or nymphs, fall to the ground. They burrow into the ground and spend 16½ years feeding on small roots. At the end of this time, usually in May or early June, nymphs move to the surface, and crawl up a tree trunk where they shed their skins. Adults are red-eyed and dark bodied. They live only for a few weeks while reproduction takes place. Males are responsible for the noise when they call for mates. The most common call sounds like "f-a-r-r-o". One of the best ways to prevent damage is to cover young trees with cheesecloth, finely woven netting or tobacco shade cloth. This physically prevents females from laying eggs in the twigs. Trees too large to cover may be sprayed with Sevin. Follow all label directions carefully. Chemical control is difficult during the peak of egg laying, because of the large numbers of cicadas present and slow action of the pesticide. Injured wood can be pruned out next winter. A publication on the periodical cicada is available upon request by writing the WVDA’s Plant Industries Division, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East, Charleston, WV 25305-0191, or by calling (304) 558-2212. |
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