Are Cherry Nose Cicadas Harmful to Plants?

Cicadas are fascinating insects known for their loud, distinctive calls that mark the arrival of summer in many parts of the world. Among the diverse species of cicadas, the Cherry Nose Cicada has recently caught the attention of gardeners and plant enthusiasts alike. Its unique appearance and behavior have raised an important question: Are Cherry Nose Cicadas harmful to plants? In this article, we will explore the biology and habits of Cherry Nose Cicadas, assess their impact on plants, and provide guidance on managing their presence in your garden.

Understanding Cherry Nose Cicadas

Cherry Nose Cicadas (sometimes referred to by their scientific classification within the Tibicen or Neotibicen genus depending on the region) are a type of cicada characterized by a distinctive red or cherry-colored “nose” or facial area. This feature makes them easily recognizable compared to other cicada species.

Physical Characteristics

Bright red or cherry-colored face (“nose”)

Large, transparent wings with green and brown venation
Robust, stout body typically measuring 1 to 2 inches in length
Males produce loud mating calls that can reach over 100 decibels

Life Cycle

The life cycle of Cherry Nose Cicadas is similar to other cicada species:

Egg Stage: Females lay eggs in slits cut into small branches or twigs.
Nymph Stage: Eggs hatch into nymphs that drop to the ground and burrow underground, feeding on root sap for multiple years (usually 2-5 years, depending on species).

Adult Stage: Nymphs emerge from the soil, molt into adults, mate, and continue the cycle.

Their underground phase can last several years during which they consume xylem sap from tree roots without causing significant damage.

Do Cherry Nose Cicadas Damage Plants?

The concern for gardeners often revolves around whether cicadas cause physical or physiological harm to plants during any stage of their life cycle.

Impact During Egg-Laying

Female Cherry Nose Cicadas use their ovipositor—a needle-like organ—to cut small slits into small branches and twigs of trees and shrubs to deposit eggs. This behavior can cause:

Twig Dieback: The slits may cause young twigs to dry out and die back. This is often referred to as “flagging,” where entire twig tips turn brown and break off.
Reduced Aesthetic Value: In ornamental plants such as cherries, dogwoods, maples, or blueberries, twig dieback may reduce visual appeal.

However, this damage is typically limited to smaller twigs and branches rather than large limbs. Most healthy mature trees can tolerate this type of damage without lasting harm.

Impact During Nymph Stage (Root Feeding)

While underground for several years feeding on root xylem sap, nymphs theoretically could stress plants by reducing water and nutrient transport through roots. However:

Research indicates that cicada nymph feeding causes minimal damage to established trees and shrubs.

Because cicada populations are usually dispersed over a wide area, individual plants generally do not experience excessive root feeding pressure.
Seedlings or very young plants with limited root systems could potentially experience more stress in rare cases.

Impact During Adult Stage

Adult cicadas primarily focus on reproduction and do not feed extensively on foliage or flowers. They might briefly feed on plant sap from stems but do not chew leaves or cause significant defoliation.

Summary of Plant Harm Potential

Which Plants Are Most Affected?

Cherry Nose Cicadas show some preference in egg-laying sites:

Fruit trees (cherry, apple) may experience twig flagging more visibly due to their delicate branches.

Small ornamental trees such as dogwood, crabapple, and maple might also show signs of twig dieback.
Native trees with tougher bark tend to sustain less damage.

Young saplings with thin branches are more vulnerable because egg-laying wounds can girdle and kill entire small stems.

Should You Be Concerned About Cherry Nose Cicadas?

For most gardeners and landscapers, Cherry Nose Cicadas do not pose a serious threat to plant health. Their presence is typically a short-term nuisance rather than a long-term hazard.

When To Be Concerned

If you manage a nursery or orchard with valuable young stock, you may want to monitor for twig damage during cicada emergence years.
If twig flagging is extensive enough to reduce fruit production or tree structural integrity.

If cicada populations are extremely high causing noticeable stress symptoms like wilting or dieback beyond isolated twigs.

Why Not Panic?

Healthy mature trees generally tolerate cicada damage easily without long-term effects.
Damage from oviposition is localized and rarely kills whole branches beyond the affected twig tips.

Root feeding by nymphs is unlikely to cause decline unless combined with other stress factors such as drought or disease.

How to Manage Cherry Nose Cicadas

If you want to reduce potential damage or simply minimize cicada presence in your garden or orchard, consider these strategies:

Cultural Controls

Prune Damaged Twigs: After emergence periods (typically late summer), prune off flagged twigs to encourage vigorous new growth.

Maintain Tree Health: Proper watering, mulching, and fertilization help plants withstand minor cicada stress better. Healthy plants recover faster from twig loss.
Plant Selection: Consider planting tree varieties less favored for egg-laying if you know your area experiences heavy cicada cycles frequently.

Physical Barriers

For high-value young trees:

Use fine mesh netting over small trees during peak adult activity periods to prevent females from laying eggs on branches. Remove nets after emergence season ends.

Chemical Controls

Generally discouraged because:

Cicadas are transient adults active only a few weeks every few years depending on species cycles.

Pesticides targeting adults could harm beneficial pollinators and other insects disproportionately.
There’s limited efficacy; damaging behaviors happen quickly during a brief window.

If chemical control is necessary due to severe economic impact in orchards:

Consult local extension services for appropriate insecticide recommendations targeting cicadas during adult emergence stages.

Ecological Benefits of Cherry Nose Cicadas

Despite concerns about minor plant damage, it’s important to remember that Cherry Nose Cicadas play valuable roles in ecosystems:

Soil Aeration: Their underground burrowing aerates soil improving water infiltration and root respiration.

Food Source: They serve as vital prey for birds, mammals, reptiles, and other insects.
Nutrient Cycling: When adults die en masse after mating seasons, their bodies decompose enriching soils with organic matter.

These benefits often outweigh the relatively minor damage they cause in natural environments.

Conclusion

In summary, Cherry Nose Cicadas are not significantly harmful to plants in most situations. While female egg-laying behavior causes some localized twig dieback—especially on young or ornamental trees—established mature plants generally tolerate this well without long-term effects. Nymph root feeding during subterranean phases causes minimal plant stress unless combined with other challenges.

Gardeners should monitor for twig flagging after cicada emergence but typically need no drastic control measures beyond pruning damaged growth and maintaining overall plant health. Chemical insecticides are rarely recommended due to environmental concerns and limited effectiveness against these brief but spectacular insect appearances.

Embracing these unique insects as part of your garden’s natural rhythm can help balance ecosystem health and appreciation for one of nature’s most intriguing summer visitors: the Cherry Nose Cicada.