Is there a need to worry about the 17 year cicada?

What's up RIU? I have a question for some old schoolers who have first hand experience growing outdoors during a year of the "17 year" cicada infestation. Are there any precautionary measures that need to be taken or are the cicadas relatively harmless to cannabis? These fuckers didn't even cross my mind this past weekend while I was transplanting my hardened 2 month old clones into 30 gallon containers outdoors. Anyone who has grown through one of these "plagues" get back to me please. Thanks y'all!!

propertyoftheUS said:

What's up RIU? I have a question for some old schoolers who have first hand experience growing outdoors during a year of the "17 year" cicada infestation. Are there any precautionary measures that need to be taken or are the cicadas relatively harmless to cannabis? These fuckers didn't even cross my mind this past weekend while I was transplanting my hardened 2 month old clones into 30 gallon containers outdoors. Anyone who has grown through one of these "plagues" get back to me please. Thanks y'all!!

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Haven't grown through them but as a kid when they came we went outside with wiffle ball bats and went crazy. They were still crawling on us. Only lasted a couple hours and then they were gone for the most part.

I'm pretty sure they stick around for a couple weeks at least. I'm just worried they might like feeding on the tender leaves of my cannabis bushes. Anybody else have any experience growing during a cicada year?

Well just going by my experience. It was a few hours of them being there heavily. Is this the 17th year? Im pretty sure pest controls that kill them the rest of the time will work. In case you didn't know they actually are here every summer but come in swarms every"17years" or so.

There are yearly cicadas and there are 17 year cicadas that hatch and burrow into the ground and then emerge 17 years later to restart the cycle. These cicadas are bigger than the yearly cicadas.

Is there not anybody else worried about these or wtf?

Oh boy... They are due to pop any day now. Interesting question but I have no answer for you. Hopefully someone does.

P.S. They make for great fishing bait. I remember as a kid going fishing and taking nothing more than my pole and some hooks.

propertyoftheUS said:

Is there not anybody else worried about these or wtf?

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They will probably use the same techniques they use to kill other insects. Try a pyrethrin bomb. They all will drop dead in that area.

I don't think cicadas eat marijuana plants... they eat tree sap.

CrocodileStunter said:

I don't think cicadas eat marijuana plants... they eat tree sap.

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That seems to be the case after doing a little bit of reading. Seems like plants and flowers are safe.

I would go with a physical barrier.. sure chems will kill them but if every one takes one test nibble youre left with sticks.. also other insects may change habits with an infestation of their natural diet.. even if they are only going for sap catapillars arnt going to cross that highway of cicada

MiddlerGuerrilla said:

That seems to be the case after doing a little bit of reading. Seems like plants and flowers are safe.

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I think poisoning them will lead to more bug problems because it will kill the birds and bats that eat bugs.

Cicada don't have mouths to chew anything, they have a straw like contraption that they use to suck XYLEM from the roots of plants while underground then from trees and branches once they emerge. As you probably already know Xylem IS in Pot plants and if memory serves me right it is a part of the respiratory system and used to carry nutrients throughout the plant.
I would say if you're planting directly into the ground line the bottom and sides of your hole with weed barrier. Just make sure your hole is large enough for the roots to be contained within the lined area. I use this method and it works great.

propertyoftheUS said:

There are yearly cicadas and there are 17 year cicadas that hatch and burrow into the ground and then emerge 17 years later to restart the cycle. These cicadas are bigger than the yearly cicadas.

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This year's Cicada will be emerging from the the Brood II and we're in for a 17 yr swarm. I'm already finding shells in my mulch

propertyoftheUS said:

Is there not anybody else worried about these or wtf?

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I am just bc I've never dealt with them. I posted some info I found about them and how they can and will effect plants. They don't have mouths to chew but a straw to drink. Kinda like a butterfly only way stronger. They go after Xylem in the roots of plants then the actual stem once they emerge. I think it's gonna be a problem, hopefully I'm wrong.

CrocodileStunter said:

I don't think cicadas eat marijuana plants... they eat tree sap.

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I've been researching and they drink Xylem which is in Pot plants. They can get it from both the roots and the stalk. I personally think we'll be fine BUT who knows. Better safe then sorry.