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Brood X Cicadas

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From: Megan Churilla City: Flossmoor, IL
What measures would you suggest for preparing gardens for the 17 year cicadas coming to our area this year? Would you not recommend planting annuals in the ground? I had some damage last year on some small trees and shrubs.
	Extension Message From: Richard Hentschel Extension Educator, Horticulture DuPage/Kane/Kendall Unit hentsche@illinois.edu
Typically Cicada do not feed on annuals or perennials. Upon emergence, they will climb on trunks or large branches of taller shrubs. They feed only briefly on foliage before egg laying. This is where damage will occur, cutting into smaller branches/large twigs. Covering valued ornamental plants like crabapples and fruit trees with netting tightly secured at the stem will prevent egg laying.
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