Georgia Cicadas Are A No-Show In 2017

ATHENS, GA — A brood of cicadas that was expected to swarm through parts of north Georgia in April or May this year has, so far, been a no-show.

Scientists say the chirping members of a cicada cluster called Brood VI have been spotted in North Carolina and Tennessee but not Georgia. The bugs, which in large numbers can do serious damage to young trees, shrubs and various crops, emerge from underground every 17 years.

"We have received very few reports of periodical cicadas in Georgia this spring, so it seems like Brood VI is primarily restricted to North Carolina and Tennessee," said Nancy Hinkle, a professor of entomology at the University of Georgia.

"Periodical cicadas singing around Blairsville was reported, but no one ever confirmed sightings."

In Georgia, part of Brood VI was expected to emerge in Rabun County. Depending on its size, the brood could have caused bugs to emerge in Rabun, Dade, Elbert, Floyd, Habersham, Paulding, White and other north Georgia counties, according to Hinkle.

The adult lifespan of a cicada is short. The young nymphs often land on trees to shed their skin and become adults. After that, they spend only about four to six weeks above ground before dying.

Contrary to popular belief, adult cicadas do not eat the vegetation that comes into their path. Rather, adult females cut slits into twigs and small branches to lay their eggs. The eggs hatch, creating tiny nymphs which fall to the ground and burrow, feeding on underground tree roots for years until it's their time to emerge.

Fruit trees are particularly vulnerable to damage by cicadas, along with ash, beech, dogwood, hickory, oak and willow, among others.

Pines and firs, along with most flowers and vegetables, are generally not bothered by the bugs. They also do not bite or sting humans or other animals.

According to Hinkle, the absence of periodical cicadas in the Peach State this year may just mean the critters moved somewhere else.

"We knew that, historically, this population barely lapped over into north Georgia," she said. "It is primarily found north of us in North Carolina."

Scientists had been hoping that advanced technology and greater awareness would lead people in Georgia to report more instances of cicada sightings than they have in the past, said Hinkle.

"We hoped this year to get better overall view of where they turned up," she said.

If anyone does make a cicada sighting in Georgia this year, they are asked to notify UGA at 706-542-9033 or Insects@uga.edu.

Photo via Pixabay