Do Cicadas Eat Trees and Plants?

Cicadas are insects that belong to the order Hemiptera and the superfamily Cicadoidea. These insects are famous for their loud and distinctive sound that they produce during the summer months. Cicadas are also known for their short life span and the emergence of their nymphs from the ground after many years of underground development. But do cicadas eat trees and plants? Let's find out.

Cicadas as Nymphs

Cicadas spend most of their life underground, where they are known as nymphs. As nymphs, cicadas feed on plant roots, specifically the sap that the roots produce. This feeding behavior does not cause significant damage to the host plant, as cicada nymphs form small tubes through which they extract sap from the roots. Additionally, the feeding behavior of cicada nymphs has been reported to promote the growth of some plants.

Cicadas as Adults

After completing their underground development, cicada nymphs emerge from the ground as adults. Adult cicadas, also known as imagoes, do feed on plants, including trees. However, cicadas are not known to cause significant damage to trees and plants. The feeding behavior of adult cicadas involves piercing the tree or plant tissue and sucking out the sap. The cicada uses its sharp mouthpart, known as a stylet, to pierce the tree or plant tissue. Once the cicada has pierced the tree or plant tissue, it sucks out the sap.

Impact of Cicadas on Trees and Plants

Cicadas may cause some damage to young trees and plants, especially when there is a high population of cicadas in the area. The feeding behavior of adult cicadas can cause wilting and discoloration of leaves in some trees and plants. However, this damage is typically not significant enough to cause long-term damage to the host plant.

Conclusion

In summary, cicadas do eat trees and plants, but their feeding behavior is not significant enough to cause long-term damage to the host plant. Cicadas, as nymphs, feed on plant roots, and their feeding behavior has been reported to promote plant growth. As adults, cicadas feed on trees and plants, but their feeding behavior typically does not cause significant damage to the host plant.