What Homeowners Should Know About Cicadas in 2026: Damage, Prevention, and Control

For homeowners in 2026, the emergence of periodical cicadas primarily poses a risk to young trees and shrubs through egg-laying and feeding activity. Established trees typically suffer only minor, cosmetic damage, while small or newly planted trees can be severely harmed or killed. The most effective protection strategy is to delay planting new trees until the fall and to use physical barriers like mesh netting on vulnerable plants.

What are the different types of cicadas? Before addressing damage, it's important to distinguish between the two basic groups of cicadas: annual and periodical. Annual cicadas appear every summer across much of the United States. In contrast, periodical cicadas—the type creating a significant emergence in 2026—spend 13 or 17 years underground as nymphs before surfacing simultaneously in massive numbers. This synchronized emergence is an evolutionary survival strategy, overwhelming predators to ensure the species' continuation. While underground, the young nymphs feed on fluids from tree roots, but it is their above-ground activity as adults that concerns homeowners.

Can cicadas cause serious damage to my plants and trees? The potential for damage depends heavily on the cicada type and the maturity of your landscaping. Periodical cicadas can cause more significant damage in a short period due to their mass emergence. Adult cicadas feed on young twigs, but the primary threat comes from the females laying eggs. They use a specialized organ to make slits in small branches, depositing their eggs inside. This process, called flagging, often causes the branch tip to wither and die. For mature, healthy trees, this damage is minor and similar to natural pruning. However, young trees, saplings, and recently planted shrubs can be severely stressed or killed if a large number of cicadas choose them for egg-laying.

How can I protect my trees from cicadas? The most straightforward strategy is timing. Based on our experience assessment, the most effective protection is to delay planting any new trees or shrubs until the fall, after the adult cicada activity has ceased. The adult cicada season typically lasts four to six weeks. If you have vulnerable young trees already in the ground, you can wrap the trunk and canopy with 1/4-inch mesh netting or cheesecloth to prevent cicadas from reaching the branches. It is crucial to secure the barrier at the base to block their ascent. Another non-chemical method is to simply spray cicadas off branches with a strong jet of water from a garden hose.

Should I use pesticides to get rid of cicadas? Applying pesticides to kill cicadas is generally not recommended by entomologists. There are several reasons for this. First, the continuous emergence of new cicadas over weeks makes effective control with chemicals nearly impossible. Second, spraying pesticides over a large area has negative environmental consequences, potentially harming pollinators and other beneficial insects. Most importantly, pesticides can sicken pets or wildlife that eat the poisoned cicadas. Given that cicadas do not bite, sting, spread disease, or infest homes, tolerance is often the best approach. Their emergence is a temporary natural event.

What should I do if a cicada gets inside my house? A cicada indoors is almost always an accident. They are not seeking to infest your home. If you find one, you can encourage it to fly out an open door or window. Alternatively, you can gently capture it by placing a container over it, sliding a piece of cardboard underneath, and releasing it outside. Avoid handling them with bare hands; while they are not aggressive, they have piercing mouthparts for feeding on plant sap and could accidentally puncture skin if threatened. They are otherwise harmless.

While the sight and sound of millions of cicadas can be overwhelming, they present a limited threat to a well-established landscape. The key takeaway for 2026 is to focus protective efforts on young and vulnerable trees using physical barriers and to appreciate this rare ecological phenomenon without resorting to unnecessary chemical interventions.