Chicago residents are bracing for a buzzing bonanza as billions of periodical cicadas from Brood XIII, which have been quietly fueling up underground for the last 17 years, make their grand, noisy entrance about two weeks ahead of schedule, reports from NBC Chicago indicate. The Morton Arboretum in Lisle confirmed the early arrival of these insects which are expected to overrun the Chicago area soon and advised residents on how to shield their greenery from the incoming swarm.
The Arboretum doesn't mince words when it says young plants, specifically those between two to three years old and smaller shrubs are most susceptible to damage as the female cicadas, in their quest to lay eggs, use their specialized organ to slice into plants, trees, and shrubs; to lay their eggs inside the thin bark, the arboretum’s Plant Pathologist Stephanie Adams told NBC Chicago while pointing out that maples, cherries, roses, and a host of other species faced the brunt of this invasion 17 years ago. Cicadas are not picky about the plants they infest, but young or stressed trees are at greatest risk according to the experts.
To combat the cicada surge, specialists are suggesting fine mesh netting as the best defense for trees at risk, according to a Chicago Sun-Times report. The Morton Arboretum's manager of the plant clinic, Spencer Campbell advised, "Protect any tree you cannot stand to lose," emphasizing the cost-benefit of prevention over replacement. Horticulturists at the Arboretum showcased methods for draping and securing netting, which should possess no larger than a quarter-inch gap to effectively barricade against the cicadas.
Yet, while some residents might be reaching for insecticide, both the city and environmental agencies warn that pesticides are mostly futile against cicadas and can cause more ecological harm than good, the mass emergence is a natural event that benefits other wildlife, as Frank Meek, a technical services manager at Orkin, elucidated—emphasizing the role cicadas play in the food chain while suggesting that homeowners could wrap tree bases in foil or barrier tape to prevent cicadas from climbing up, an additional measure shared by NBC Chicago.
Experts say this year's emergence is unprecedented due to the overlapping cycles of both 17-year and 13-year broods, a phenomenon not due until another cycle of waiting. The Morton Arboretum has prepped about 500 trees with protective netting, anticipating the swarm and advising Chicagoans to keep trees wrapped until mid-June when cicada activity is projected to abate, a move they suggest could save residents money and prevent long-term arboreal impacts.
