What’s Happening to the Trees?
Riding around, giving trees the side-eye while wondering why their tips are turning brown.
In case you’re wondering if Hurricane Helene blew in some new alien disease affecting area trees, we’ve got an answer for you!
“No, it’s not a new disease, but the last hurrah of the 17-year cicada,” said Allison Arnold, Buncombe County Ag Extension Agent and Master Gardner.
Since May, the cicadas have been wrecking havoc on plants and woodland trees. Their short lives consist of finding a mate and laying eggs. The males are responsible for the shrill noises that they make to attract females.
The damage is caused when the female cuts slits into the stems at the ends of branches to lay eggs. This causes the tips of the branches to wilt and even fall off. Most trees can handle the damage without permanent problems.
The adults only live for about two weeks, but they’re a gift that keeps on giving. The cicadas will eventually drop to the ground where they burrow and feed on the roots of trees for the next 17 years.
See you in 2042, cicadas!
