In Might, components of Chicago have been lined by a brood of buzzing, mating, crawling red-eyed cicadas for the primary time in 17 years. The small timber of the town have been prepared.
Householders in Chicago have wrapped small timber of their yards with mesh netting, protecting the timber in white—and defending them from any harm that may happen in the course of the emergence of swarms of cicadas referred to as brood. often known as XIII. One other group, Brood XIX, emerged on the similar time within the southern components of Illinois, and in Many other regions of the United States.
The shuttered timber create a mysterious and gorgeous impact all through the town and its suburbs, with the purple and inexperienced leaves of the Japanese maple or elm barely seen behind the clear tulle.
Botanists say such covers are a sensible concept. As feminine cicadas lay eggs that hatch for the subsequent 13 or 17 years, they will trigger short-term harm to some timber and shrubs.
Whereas cicadas do not sting or chew individuals, they will harm younger timber with small branches, mentioned Tom Tidens, supervisor of plant well being on the Chicago Botanic Backyard. Feminine cicadas make lengthy incisions in twigs, laying 20 eggs in every incision, for a complete of 600 eggs.
Timber about six toes or shorter with pencil-shaped branches might profit from wrapping till the periodic cicadas are gone in a number of weeks, Mr. Tiddens mentioned.
Whereas netting can forestall new progress, he mentioned, as soon as it is eliminated, younger timber ought to regain their kind in a month or two.
Householders with unprotected timber needn’t fear. “Most timber and shrubs will get well simply wonderful from cicada harm,” he mentioned.
