City Of Alexandria Response To Cicada Emergence

Press release from the City of Alexandria:

May 14, 2021 at 11:10 AM

City of Alexandria Response
to Cicada Emergence

For Immediate Release: May 14, 2021

The City of Alexandria will experience the 17-year cycle of
the emergence of millions of the Brood X Cicadas from underground to mate and
lay eggs in trees throughout the City now through mid-summer.
The egg laying will be concentrated on smaller diameter twigs and branches.
Impacted trees will exhibit clusters of dead leaves and branches that droop and
turn brown as their circulation is cut off by the implanted eggs.

For most trees, this damage will be unsightly but
superficial. The trees will shed their damaged portions and continue growing.
Some trees, particularly young, newly established trees, may succumb to their
injuries.

The City is taking the following steps in response to the
cicada emergence:

• Delay spring tree
  plantings to be planted alongside fall trees to avoid cicada damage.
• Water recently planted
  trees to improve their health and ability to cope with cicada damage.
  

The City will not:

• Apply pesticides to
  deter cicadas as they are not considered effective.
• Install netting to
  protect trees. While effective, netting is not economical at the municipal
  scale. Individual property owners should still consider netting as a
  potential protective measure for small or newly established
  trees.

For additional information, visit the City’s Urban Forestry
Management website or contact Bob Williams, Division Chief, Park Operations
and Natural Lands Management, at Bob.Williams@alexandriava.gov.

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This release is available at alexandriava.gov/122321

This press release was produced by the City of Alexandria.The views expressed here are the author’s own.