Cicada: Identifying Characteristics
Identifying the injury:
Host trees have damaged or dying twigs that have elongated slits in the bark that parallel the length of the twig. Molted skins of the nymphs may be attached to the branches and trunks of host trees or may be on found on the ground around the host tree. The loud shrill of the adult males can be heard during mating season.
Identifying the insect:
Adult cicadas have a 1"-2" wingspan with a black body and green or orange-brown markings. They have large, black or red eyes and clear wings with orange veins. Nymphs look somewhat like their adult counterparts but are wingless and not as brightly colored.
Susceptible trees:
Any hardwood tree can serve as a host for cicadas with oaks being the preferred host. Ornamental trees, fruit trees, and very young trees are also easily attacked.