What Plants Do Butterbum Cicadas Prefer for Feeding?

Butterbum cicadas, like many cicada species, are fascinating insects known for their distinctive sound and unique life cycle. These cicadas are part of the larger group of periodical and annual cicadas that emerge to feed, mate, and reproduce. Understanding the feeding preferences of Butterbum cicadas is essential for gardeners, farmers, and entomologists who want to manage their presence or simply appreciate their role in the ecosystem.

In this article, we will explore what plants Butterbum cicadas prefer for feeding, their feeding habits, how they interact with their host plants, and what this means for plant health and garden management.

Overview of Butterbum Cicadas

Before delving into their feeding preferences, it’s helpful to understand a bit about Butterbum cicadas themselves. These insects belong to a category of cicadas known for their relatively short emergence cycles compared to some other species that emerge every 13 or 17 years.

Butterbum cicadas are named somewhat colloquially for the buttery or pale coloration some exhibit. They are found primarily in temperate regions where they thrive on a variety of woody plants.

Like other cicadas, Butterbum cicadas spend most of their lives underground as nymphs, feeding on sap from plant roots. When they emerge as adults, they switch to feeding on above-ground parts of plants.

Feeding Habits of Butterbum Cicadas

Cicadas feed by piercing plant tissues with specialized mouthparts called stylets. They extract xylem sap—a water-based fluid rich in minerals but low in nutrients—from the plant’s vascular system. This diet requires cicadas to consume large volumes of sap to meet their nutritional needs.

Butterbum cicadas primarily feed on:

• Woody shrubs
• Deciduous trees
• Occasionally herbaceous plants

Their preference typically leans toward healthy plants with vigorous sap flow to support their high-volume feeding requirements.

Preferred Plant Types for Feeding

Deciduous Trees

Butterbum cicadas favor deciduous trees due to the abundance of xylem sap available during the growing season. Some commonly preferred species include:

• Maple (Acer spp.): The soft wood and abundant sap make maples popular among Butterbum cicadas.
• Oak (Quercus spp.): Oaks provide a plentiful source of nutrients via sap.
• Birch (Betula spp.): Birch trees’ softer bark allows easier penetration by the cicada’s stylet.
• Elm (Ulmus spp.): Elms are often targeted due to their wide distribution and plentiful sap.

Woody Shrubs

Butterbum cicadas also feed on various woody shrubs such as:

• Dogwood (Cornus spp.)
• Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)
• Sumac (Rhus spp.)

These shrubs provide an alternative food source especially in areas where larger trees may be scarce.

Fruit Trees

Fruit orchards can occasionally experience Butterbum cicada activity since these insects do not discriminate heavily against cultivated plants:

• Apple (Malus domestica)
• Cherry (Prunus spp.)
• Peach (Prunus persica)

Their feeding can sometimes cause damage or stress to young trees through prolonged sap extraction.

Herbaceous Plants

While less common, some Butterbum cicadas may feed on the stems of herbaceous plants during emergence but generally avoid these due to lower nutrient content compared to woody plants.

How Butterbum Cicadas Feed

The feeding process begins when an adult female or male lands on a suitable host plant. Using its piercing-sucking mouthparts, it inserts its stylets into the xylem vessels. The insect then excretes saliva that helps keep the tissues soft while drawing sap continuously.

Unlike other insects that consume phloem sap rich in sugars and nutrients, xylem sap is mostly water with dissolved minerals. This means that Butterbum cicadas must process large volumes to obtain adequate nutrition, often leading to prolonged feeding sessions on a single plant part.

Impact of Feeding on Host Plants

The extraction of xylem sap by Butterbum cicadas usually causes minimal direct harm to mature trees because the volume removed is relatively small compared to the tree’s total sap flow capacity. However, some impacts include:

• Stress on young or weakened trees: Heavy feeding may reduce vigor.
• Physical damage: Insertion sites can sometimes become entry points for pathogens.
• Branch Dieback: Repeated feeding on tender shoots can cause localized dieback.
• Reduced fruit yield: In orchards, heavy infestations may affect fruit development indirectly by stressing the tree.

Despite these potential effects, most established trees tolerate butterbum cicada feeding well and recover without lasting damage.

Seasonal Timing of Feeding

Butterbum cicada adults typically emerge in late spring through summer when temperatures rise and host plants have active sap flow.

Peak feeding occurs during:

• Daytime hours, when temperatures support sap movement.
• Periods right after leaf emergence when young shoots offer tender bark ideal for stylet insertion.

Nymphs in the soil feed year-round on root xylem but cause no visual damage at this stage.

Managing Butterbum Cicada Feeding in Gardens and Orchards

For gardeners and orchard managers concerned about potential damage from Butterbum cicada feeding, several strategies can be employed:

Monitoring and Identification

Recognize signs of adult emergence:

• Distinctive buzzing calls
• Presence of shed exoskeletons on tree trunks
• Visible adults perched or moving along branches

Early identification helps prepare for potential feeding activity.

Protective Measures

• Use physical barriers such as lightweight netting over young or vulnerable plants during peak emergence times.
• Avoid excessive pruning before emergence as fresh cuts attract more egg-laying and subsequent nymph development.

Encourage Natural Predators

Birds, spiders, and predatory insects feed on adult cicadas naturally reducing populations without harmful chemicals.

Chemical Controls

Limited use of insecticides is generally recommended as chemicals have minimal impact on adult cicadas due to their short above-ground lifespan and potential environmental consequences on non-target species.

Always consult local extension services before applying pesticides targeting cicadas.

Ecological Role of Butterbum Cicada Feeding Preferences

While some see them as pests, Butterbum cicadas play an important ecological role:

• Their feeding activity aids nutrient cycling by stimulating plant responses.
• Post-emergence bodies enrich soil nutrient content.
• Serve as a significant food source for multiple predators.

Understanding their host plant preferences allows better coexistence with these insects in natural and managed landscapes.

Conclusion

Butterbum cicadas prefer feeding on a variety of woody plants including deciduous trees like maples and oaks, woody shrubs such as dogwood and sumac, and occasionally fruit trees common in orchards. Their specialized mouthparts allow them to extract nutrient-poor but mineral-rich xylem sap throughout the growing season. While their feeding generally poses little threat to mature trees, young or stressed plants can experience damage if infestations are heavy.

Gardeners and farmers can monitor Butterfly bum cicada activity by recognizing their emergence patterns and take protective measures if necessary. However, embracing their role within ecosystems helps maintain biodiversity and natural balance. By understanding what plants Butterbum cicadas prefer for feeding, we gain insight into managing their impact effectively while appreciating these remarkable insects’ place in nature.