Cicada Damaged Trees

Most of the adults of Brood X of the 17-year periodic cicada have come and gone, now setting the stage for the next emergence in 2038. Before leaving, the females deposited their eggs, usually by making a small slit at the end of a branch in its host tree. 

The eggs will hatch in a few months, then the young cicada will make their way to the ground, burrow down into the soil, and prepare for their emergence in 17 years.  Sometimes the ends of tree branches will die back from this egg laying activity. This normally does not harm a large tree, but it can disfigure young trees, or trees of small stature.

Article by FCFCDB

Photo credit: Mike Kay, Board member

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