Page 31 2024 Spring Home and Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS April 2024 cicada will reach 90 decibel’s, about the same as a push lawnmower. When it first starts it is a bit of a romantic sound, reminding us of the fact that we are enjoying the warm nights of spring and summer, but after all those weeks, the sound may become a little irritating, so be prepared with something that will muffle that sound other than covering your head with a pillow at night. So we know that these bugs can cause inconvenience and some tree damage, but what do they do that is beneficial. First, they are good food for other critters. The crusty shells are nutritious for birds and small wildlife such as squirrels, so they will eat the surplus happily. They are also a source of nitrogen for the trees as the shells decay, so you can leave the shells on the ground around the trees and allow them to self-compost around the base of those trees. The act of boring underground to find their nesting spot offers aeration for lawns and helps breakup hard soils. And finally, if you are brave, they are edible by humans. Not many people we know are anxious for a nice fried cicada or a cicada stew this summer, but the fact is they are known to be a delicacy and have even been featured on Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmerman. So, watch out for the cicadas this year, and be prepared for those noisy nights because indeed, indeed they will come! [Nila Smith] Resources: The cicadas are coming! Periodical cicadas in Illinois in 2024 | Illinois Extension | UIUC periodical_cicadas_2024_brood_fact_sheet.pdf (illinois.edu) Do Cicadas Damage Trees - Learn About Tree Damage From Cicada Insects | Gardening Know How How to protect your smaller trees from cicadas (wcpo.com) Cicada Brood XIII, Brood XIX damage to trees and shrubs: How to manage (usatoday. com) What is the purpose of cicadas? - Cicada Mania
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