As we move into the summer, the song of the cicada is going to be heard. In fact, they’re one of the most “summer vibe” bugs out there. I mean, think about it. Is there anything else that lets you know it’s summer like that drone? No, there isn’t. This is a bug that is synonymous with summer. That’s why today we’ll be talking about the Florida cicadas.
In case you’re new to the state, cicadas are a tree bug that’s related to the grasshopper. It’s the one that you hear that makes the constant droning that lasts through the summer. They feed off of tree sap and lay their eggs on the bark. In Florida, the female cicadas are mute, and only males have timbals. The songs you hear are essentially an effort to attract a mate. Thankfully, they’re no real threat to humans. So let’s really get into it.
Florida Cicadas: Overview
Now, if you’ve lived down south, you’ll already know what I mean. The winters are quiet, but the springs and summer? Entirely a different story thanks to this droning insect. A few months ago an evening walk was much quieter. Not saying that Florida is ever really quiet, mind you. But here in the late spring, we’re reaching the true peak of insect activity. This also means increased activity in the things that eat these insects, such as birds. And the farther north in the state you go, the louder the nights are.
And before you panic, no. Cicadas are not locust. They don’t bite, and they won’t swarm your crops. But you probably won’t see these guys as much as you hear them. These bugs are rarely seen or captured, and you’re more likely to see remains of their earlier life stages than the bugs themselves. For example, you’ll often see the skeletons of their nymph stage. They shed these once they move into adulthood. But then they just…kind of leave the shell there. They’re those opaque, brown husks that you’ll see on the trunks of trees or sides of buildings.
Like other insects, those Florida cicadas’ discarded exoskeletons have very little potential for growth. It’s more for protection than long-term use, so when they’re able to fly, the cicadas shed them and take to the skies. There are around nineteen species of cicada in Florida, and they’re categorized into three groups based on overall size measured by their wings. They produce their “songs” with a drum-like structure on the sides of their bodies. A muscle attached to these timbal plates causes them to pop inward and outward when flexed rapidly, creating the droning noise.
Are Cicadas a Pest?
Short answer: no. Long answer ahead!
Florida Cicadas aren’t really considered a pest of any significance. They don’t require treatment and are best left alone, since they don’t actually cause any damage. At most, they tend to damage tree twigs with their egg-laying, but since Florida cicadas don’t brood, this isn’t much of a problem. They’re active in tree canopies and shrubs during the daytime and aren’t attracted to people. And because of their love of shrubs and trees, they won’t make a mess of your car.
Cicadas also don’t bite and sting, nor do they carry any diseases they can transfer to us. They’re a food source for wildlife, and even people if you have a strong stomach. I’ve heard their taste and texture to be similar to that of a shrimp.
Florida Cicadas Inside?
One thing to consider is if you see cicadas in your home. Because if you see them there, it was 100 percent on accident. Considering that, there must be some way into your home since this bug really won’t consider flying through an open door or window. Maybe consider getting someone out to take a look into this, as if a big, bulky, clumsy bug like a cicada can get inside than almost anything else can as well. Then before you know it, bam. Mosquitoes, roaches, or any other kind of actual pest can move in and infest your home. Otherwise, there’s no real reason to “fear” the Florida cicadas.
There is no pest control method against these creatures. Not only is it not needed, but it would be near impossible to treat them outside of a mass chemical bombing of the trees around your house. No one wants that, do they? Really, the only issue you MIGHT have is a mass die-off if you live in a state with the periodic brooding cicadas, but even then they won’t last long. They’ll quickly be eaten by scavengers, and the ones that aren’t will biodegrade.
Do Cicadas Brood in Florida?
You may have recently seen some stories in the news about this bug. And it’s likely that these stories included something mentioning the “Brood X Cicada”. This is referring to the 17-year brood that’s to emerge this year. It’s expected to be seen in several states, with the southernmost being Virginia.
The nymphs will scale trees after emerging from the ground en-masse. Then they’ll latch on and metamorphize into their adult forms. The adults, now equipped with wings, will then begin the hectic search for a mate. Their lives are very short, the brooding Cicadas. Once they mate and lay their eggs, they will die off and the next seventeen-year wait will begin. Some states will even have overlapping broods.
This leads to brood “booms” that see those states having considerably over the average of cicadas coming out of the ground. But in case it isn’t clear, the Florida cicadas are not brooding cicadas. They’re known as “annuals”. And chances are, while you may hear them, you’ll almost never see them. The nymphs all live underground in burrows, where they feed on tree-root sap. They molt four times underground and once above ground, as I mentioned earlier. And with their lives spent in trees, combined with their good eyesight, you’ll probably never spot one during its short life of, on average, a few weeks at most.
