Periodic Cicada Brood XIX

General Fruit Growing
#1

Sorry if this doesn’t deserve a new thread.

Many of us are in for Brood XIX in 2024. Last time, these guys were unspeakably horrible.

I’m already stressing about this in relation to my pawpaws. The branch diameter tends to be perfect for these demons.

I wanted to get reactions to a crazy idea:
I already paint my pawpaw trunks to prevent southwest injury.
I had the crazy thought to paint the undersides of branches with sky blue paint with the rationale it would confuse the cicadas with a type of camouflage against the blue sky (in addition to possible deterrence from the latex paint itself.)
Same principle many fish use by having a dark dorsal side and pale ventral side.

Go ahead, I can take the mockery …

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#2

Hey go for it. They are a pain. Do they make a lot of noise or just tree damage that bothers you?

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#3

Where in TN are you at? Maybe you’ll be okay. There’s a total solar eclipse in April next year in the same areas of the brood emergence. Sounds biblical…

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#4

I’m near Nashville. Last emergence was apocalyptic. You couldn’t really walk down the sidewalk without getting swarmed.
Yes the sound was deafening. Piles and piles of carcasses under trees.

However, I didn’t have a garden or orchard at that time.

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#5

Are cicadas deterred by Surround? I was not using the product when Brood X emerged and ended up covering all of my young trees with insect netting. It was a real pain. The only thing they left largely untouched without protection if I recall correctly were my figs, jujubes, and citrus. I might have tried Surround if I had known about it.

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#6

In parts of Texas, like Amarillo, there are cicada every year all summer long. They caused some damage. But the worst part was the constant noise all day all summer long. Disgusting…!!

Alpine, 400 miles south, doesn’t have a single one ever. So nice, being outside is actually peaceful…!!!

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#7

I hear ya!
Yes we have the “regular” cicadas yearly. They’re noisy for sure but nothing like the plague of XIX

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#8

I believe some tried it last year for Brood X as mentioned in that thread. My recollection is that it was perhaps moderately helpful.

Yeah physical exclusion is the best approach but not feasible or affordable for the number of trees I have.

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#9

There are 3,000 species of cicada worldwide. Only the eastern USA has the 17 yr type. Everywhere else it’s annual types.

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#10

It would definitely have been a task if my trees had not been so young and sized small enough to cover. I try to be harmonious with nature but I will say I’m glad it’s a 17 year cycle not every year because it’s pretty awful with them everywhere as you say - apocalyptic.

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#11

Oh man this is absolutely frightening. :scream: The last time was apocalyptic.

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