Serving Memphis, Cordova, Germantown & Collierville TN
Tennessee is no stranger to the song of cicadas. Their chirping buzz reminds us of the dog days of summer. As the cicadas arrive in great numbers, their song can drown other nature songs from other species. For 2021, the Great Eastern Brood, Brood X, is a regular visitor of periodical cicadas in the eastern part of the United States. During spring this year, they will appear in fifteen states to tunnel to the surface of the ground, mate with each other, lay eggs, and eventually die off within several weeks. The professional Memphis pest control company, AAA Termite & Pest Control, shares more about these curious creatures.
Are cicadas harmful to humans?
Aside from the song they sing around 120 decibels, the cicadas are not harmful to humans. While their chirp is not actually loud enough to cause harm to people, it may be annoying, to say the least!
Will cicadas harm plant life and trees?
Although the cicadas do not intentionally plan on destroying plant life, it can happen to shrubs, trees, plants, branches, or other agricultural plants. The cicada uses plant life to lay eggs, and when too many are in one area, some of the eggs can be lost by falling from the tree, bush, or limb and die. When the cicadas arrive, a leading pest control company in Memphis recommends bringing in potted plants. If there are particular plants in the ground you would like to save, you could transplant them into another pot and bring it inside to protect it.
Why do the cicadas make all the noise?
First, only the males make the distinctive noises we hear even though both males and females can detect sounds using a membranous structure like ears so they can listen to each other. It can be challenging to find the pinpoint the origin of the cicada song. Cicadas sing in scattered groups, but to the human ear, the sound seems continuous.
According to the experienced cicada pest control company in Memphis, there are multiple sounds cicadas make to communicate within their species for various reasons listed below:
- Calling Songs
- Courtship Song
- Encounter Calls
- Traditional Mating Song
- Specie Specific Distinct Distress Call
- Broken and Erratic Sound when Seized or Panicked
The sounds are distinguishable to the cicadas and those who study the species. However, the cicada song to the human ear is undecipherable.
Cicada Information in Cordova and Memphis, Tennessee
Cicadas are a natural phenomenon that occurs every 17 years. Unfortunately, there is no way to control the species, so we must co-exist while they are out of hiding. If you have questions or would like to find out more about the cicadas and their history, either call the friendly pest control technicians in Cordova at AAA Termite & Pest Control (901) 737-7378 or reach out online, and we will respond as soon as possible.