Signs of Apache Cicada Activity in Your Garden

If you’ve recently noticed a shift in the sounds and sights of your garden, it might be due to an influx of Apache cicadas. These fascinating insects are known for their distinctive calls and unique life cycle, which can bring both intrigue and concern to gardeners. Understanding the signs of Apache cicada activity can help you better manage your garden’s health and appreciate these remarkable creatures. This article explores the key indicators of Apache cicada presence and what their activity means for your outdoor space.

Who Are the Apache Cicadas?

Before diving into the signs of activity, it’s helpful to know a bit about the Apache cicada itself. Native to parts of the southwestern United States, particularly Arizona and New Mexico, Apache cicadas are part of the broader cicada family known for their loud mating calls and underground larval stages. Unlike some other cicada species with long life cycles, Apache cicadas typically emerge annually, making them a more regular presence in gardens within their range.

Audible Signs: The Characteristic Calls

One of the most noticeable signs of Apache cicada activity is the sound they produce. Male cicadas emit a high-pitched, rhythmic buzzing or clicking sound designed to attract females during their mating season. This call can often be heard during warm days, especially in late spring and early summer.

• Volume and Frequency: The calls can be quite loud, sometimes reaching up to 100 decibels, comparable to a lawn mower. Their distinctive buzzing tends to pulse in intervals rather than being constant.
• Location: Listen for these sounds coming from trees or shrubs where male cicadas perch while calling.
• Duration: The calling period can last several weeks, peaking when large numbers emerge simultaneously.

If you start hearing this persistent buzzing sound during warm afternoons, it’s a strong indication that Apache cicadas have arrived.

Visual Indicators: Spotting the Cicadas Themselves

While the sound is often your first clue, spotting an Apache cicada directly confirms their presence.

• Appearance: Apache cicadas are medium-sized insects with sturdy bodies ranging from 2 to 3 inches in length. They have translucent wings with prominent veins and distinctive markings on their thorax and abdomen.
• Coloration: Their coloration often blends greenish or brown tones, helping them camouflage against tree bark and leaves.
• Behavior: You may see them resting on tree trunks, branches, or even garden fencing during daylight hours. They tend to be slow-moving but can fly short distances when disturbed.

Observing them firsthand offers a glimpse into their behavior during their active season.

Damage Signs on Plants

Though generally not harmful in large numbers, some gardeners worry about potential damage caused by cicadas. Individual adult cicadas typically do not feed on plants; instead, they use their proboscis to suck sap only minimally. However, the real impact comes from their egg-laying habits.

• Egg-Laying Scars: Female Apache cicadas insert eggs into thin branches or twigs by making small slits with their ovipositor (egg-laying appendage). This process leaves visible scars or tiny slit-like marks on affected twigs.
• Twig Dieback: Multiple egg scarring sites can weaken branches, causing them to wilt or break off—a condition often called “flagging” because affected twigs droop like flags.
• Affected Plants: Young trees and shrubs with thin branches are most vulnerable. Mature trees usually withstand this stress without significant damage.

If you notice an unusual number of broken twigs or tiny cuts on new growth during late summer or early fall, it could be a sign that Apache cicadas have been active in your garden.

Presence of Exuviae (Cicada Shells)

Another clear indication of cicada activity is finding their shed exoskeletons attached to plants or nearby structures.

• What Are Exuviae? After emerging from underground as nymphs, cicadas molt one last time to become winged adults. The empty shells they leave behind remain clinging firmly to tree bark, stems, garden stakes, or fences.
• Appearance: These shells look like tiny golden-brown insect husks with split backs where the adult emerged.
• Abundance: Finding numerous exuviae scattered around your garden signals recent emergence events.

Collecting these shells can be fascinating and helps verify that the buzzing you hear is indeed from newly emerged adult Apache cicadas.

Increased Bird Activity

A less direct but notable sign of increased cicada populations is heightened bird activity in your garden.

• Bird Predation: Many bird species enjoy feeding on cicadas due to their abundance and nutritional value.
• Behavioral Changes: You may observe more frequent visits by birds such as jays, crows, woodpeckers, or mockingbirds when cicadas are present.
• Feeding Signs: Look for disturbed leaf litter or evidence of birds catching insects mid-air near trees hosting calling males.

Birds act as natural control agents by reducing large numbers of adult cicadas during peak activity periods.

Soil Disturbances Around Trees

Remember that before emerging as adults, Apache cicada nymphs spend years underground feeding on root sap. Gardeners may notice subtle soil disturbances associated with this stage:

• Exit Holes: When ready to emerge, nymphs dig exit tunnels through the soil near tree bases.
• Soil Craters: Small holes approximately 1/2 inch in diameter might appear at ground level beneath infested trees.
• Loosened Soil: Digging activity by nymphs can slightly loosen soil surfaces around plant roots.

These underground activities signal that a new generation will soon join the above-ground population.

Timing of Activity

Understanding when Apache cicadas are active helps anticipate signs:

• Emergence Period: Typically late spring through summer months when temperatures consistently rise above 70°F (21°C).
• Peak Calling Time: Warmest parts of sunny days—mornings and afternoons tend to be quieter.
• Duration: Active adults remain above ground for about 4–6 weeks before dying off after mating and laying eggs.

Monitoring your garden during these times increases chances of noticing early signs like emerging nymphs or initial calls.

Managing Cicada Activity in Your Garden

While many gardeners appreciate the natural spectacle of Apache cicadas, those with young or delicate plants may want to manage potential damage:

• Protect Sensitive Plants: Use netting or fine mesh over young trees during peak egg-laying periods.
• Prune Flagged Branches: Removing damaged twigs shortly after egg-laying reduces stress on plants.
• Encourage Natural Predators: Attract birds by providing feeders or water sources to help control cicada numbers naturally.
• Avoid Chemical Controls: Pesticides are generally ineffective against mature cicadas and can harm beneficial insects.

Accepting some level of cicada presence is part of coexisting with these fascinating insects while protecting valued vegetation.

Conclusion

Signs of Apache cicada activity in your garden range from loud buzzing calls and visible adult insects to twig damage and discarded exoskeletons. Recognizing these indicators allows gardeners to appreciate this unique insect’s life cycle while mitigating any potential harm to plants. By tuning into auditory cues, visual evidence, plant changes, and even bird behaviors, you can better understand when and how Apache cicadas influence your outdoor space each year.

Embracing this natural phenomenon enriches your gardening experience and fosters greater connection with the diverse ecosystem thriving just outside your door. Whether you view them as intriguing visitors or temporary pests, knowing how to identify signs of Apache cicada activity equips you with insight and confidence for managing your garden throughout their seasonal emergence.