Knowledgebase

Cicadas and honeysuckle #745284

Asked April 20, 2021, 11:18 AM EDT

Hi, I am wondering if my newly transplanted Peaches and Cream honeysuckle plants need to be covered to protect them from the coming cicadas. Please advise. Thank you!

Montgomery County Maryland

Expert Response

We do not think this vine will be affected by the egg laying habits of the female cicadas. They may climb on the vine but should not hurt it. If there was any damage, the stems could be easily pruned off later in the summer. This vine is pretty hardy and will recover. 

Young trees with branches about the size of a pencil are usually targeted. Also, not all areas will get the same degrees of possible damage. For instance, areas that in the past were primarily agricultural farms with few trees will not see very many of them hatch out. Older, long established areas with lots of trees will see more.

It is up to you if you want to protect the young vine. Do not put any barrier on too early. Put on when the cicadas emerge in your area and remove when they leave about the end of June. Here is a video on netting a tree and our webpage. https://extension.umd.edu/resource/cicadas

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNXso81jdEGX3uDo0MhYlBw

Marian

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