Cicada Damage to Aronia Plants

Are your fields buzzing?

MAA Members reporting Cicada damage to Aronia plants

An MAA member from Leon, IA reported damage to her Aronia plants:

The 17 year brood of cicadas in the area was the suspected culprit.

Another member (St. Charles, IA) with similar cicada damage to his plants replied with this source:  http://www.gardenersnet.com/atoz/cicada.htm.  It appears to have very good coverage of the basic topics relating to cicada infestation, life span, reporting, siting data (http://www.gardenersnet.com/atoz/cicada-watch-sighting-2014.htm), recommended prevention, etc.  According to the source, the best protection is ¼” netting wrapped all around the tree or bush.  Mature trees are not often affected negatively, but younger plants can experience severe damage, since the female creates a slit in the branches (1/2” or less in diameter) to lay eggs, which subsequently weakens the branch, causing breaks and possible plant death.

This member estimates a 50-75% yield loss due to cicada damage and believes his 4-year plants will survive, but that first and second year plants may experience some plant morbidity.