How Cicadas Affect Wildlife

If you live in the Southeast or the Midwest in the United States, I’m sure you’ve already heard that 2024 is the year of the great cicada merging. This is the year that adjacent 13-year and 17-year broods will emerge in the same year. Some places have already been inundated with the cicadas loud chirping, or buzzing.

Cicadas do much more than make noise. During the brief but intense time the cicadas are active, they can be a great benefit to our wildlife . Some refer to cicada emergences as ‘nature’s buffet’. From birds to mammals, and even other insects, the banquet is set.

However, cicadas aren’t just a food source. A cicada emergence influences various ecological processes in several ways, from the soil chemistry to the behavior of animals far up the food chain. While there are many benefits to wildlife because of the cicada emergence, there can potentially be some challenges as well.

The Bounty of the Emergence: How Cicadas Nourish the Wildlife

The emergence of cicadas is akin to an all-you-can-eat buffet for the local wildlife. From birds to small mammals, many species thrive during this plentiful time. As cicadas come out of the ground, they serve as a protein-packed meal, which can be particularly beneficial for predators like birds,which might be raising their young during this period.

Interestingly, cicada years often lead to a noticeable increase in populations of these predators. The sudden abundance of food allows more young animals to survive and flourish. Scientists can actually trace increases in other animal populations to the appearance of cicadas. Furthermore, the effects ripple through the ecosystem, as well-nourished predators can better control other pest populations.

Not only feathered hunters benefit, but even fish take advantage of cicadas when they fall into streams and ponds, providing a feast for aquatic species as well.This influx of cicadas may also coincide with certain bird migrations, potentially influencing the timing and success of their breeding patterns due the sudden surge in available nutrition.

But it is not just the direct consumption of cicadas that benefits wildlife. Cicadas can aerate lawns and improve water filtration into the ground. When they die, their bodies decompose, releasing nutrients back into the soil, which in turn supports plant growth. This enhancement of the floristic quality can bolster the entire ecosystem, supporting a richer biodiversity.

 When encountering cicadas, remember that they are not harmful to humans, pets, household gardens, or crops.  Cicadas do not bite or sting. They are not poisonous or venomous and are eaten by many organisms.  If dogs or cats eat many cicadas, this may temporarily cause an upset stomach or vomiting, but there is no need to worry if a pet eats a small number of them.

Conservation Implications: Protecting Wildlife Habitats in Cicada Years

During years when cicadas emerge, the effects on local wildlife habitats can be significant. It’s essential to understand the role that human interference and conservation efforts play in these critical periods. Conservationists use these times to study and improve strategies for managing wildlife populations, ensuring their actions support overall ecological health.

One aspect of conservation is dealing with the surges in food supply. Both the influx of cicadas and their eventual die-off offer an opportunity to balance natural predator-prey relationships. By keeping a close eye on population dynamics, conservationists can help prevent long-term disruptions in local ecosystems.

In addition to managing wildlife, there’s also a focus on habitat maintenance. It’s crucial to protect the plants and trees that cicadas utilize both for reproduction and as sustenance for other species.Careful planning can prevent overuse of these vegetative resources and maintain habitat integrity.

Public involvement is also key. Educating communities about cicadas and their ecological roles empowers individuals to participate in conservation activities. Simple actions, such as planting native species and avoiding pesticide use during emergence, can make a substantial difference. If you live in the area of a cicada emergence and want to help in mapping the cicadas, you can download the app Cicada Safari app from either the Apple app store or Google play, then go on a safari to find periodical cicadas.

Bolstering biodiversity is a pivotal aim. A diverse habitat is a resilient one, better equipped to handle the influx of cicadas and any subsequent effects. Encouraging a variety of species within an ecosystem helps to ensure that it can thrive, even through the dramatic highs and lows of cicada emergences.

So, while periodic cicada emergences present challenges, they also offer invaluable lessons for conservation and a reminder of nature’s incredible interconnectedness. By acting with intention and knowledge, we can help preserve wildlife habitats, not only for the spectacle of cicada years but for the health of ecosystems every year.