Cicadas Arriving Soon
History: Cicadas are a common occurrence annually during summer, but every 13 and 17 years, a periodical cicada emerges from the underground. The cicadas then will mate and lay their eggs in tree branches; the female will make a slit in small branches of trees. The female then lays her eggs in these slits before dying. Around four to six weeks later, the eggs hatch, and the young cicada nymphs fall to the ground, tunnel into the soil, and the cycle starts over again.
Best Management practices:
• Avoid planting young trees less than 2 inches in diameter this spring.
• Cover vulnerable small trees with netting.
• Avoid contact insecticides – due to the large scale of the emergence, insecticides can be harmful to beneficial insects.
Watch video from City Forester, Corey Weirema.
The City will not be applying systemic or contact insecticides before or during the emergence to decrease the activity of the cicadas. Enjoy this natural phenomenon. Cicadas don’t bite or sting, and they aren’t poisonous. If you have any questions, please call the City of Lake Forest Forestry sections at 847-810-3564.
Find more information on cicadas from the Lake County Forest Preserves.