I predict that by this weekend the 17 year periodical cicada will have started to come out of their underground homes and caused havoc to thousands of home owners.

Their arrival time is like a weather forecast, it’s just a prediction. The conditions have to be just right. First of all, they need to make exit holes under trees which they already started over two weeks ago. The soil temperature needs to be about 64 degrees. It’s close to that now in most areas. The soil itself also needs to be damp so the cicada can exit the hole with ease and finally, the cicada usually starts their underground exit on a warm sunny day. Most of these conditions have already been met so again, by this weekend most places will start seeing these insects if they aren’t already seeing them now. At least that’s my prediction.

There are several broods in the region that appear at different times. For instance, our brood we are getting this year is different from the brood that say, Meigs County received in 2004. Unfortunately, probably 75 percent of the WSAZ viewing audience is in for the BUGS this year. Oaks, maples, dogwoods, fruit trees, magnolias are most susceptible. To reduce damage to these trees especially less than eight feet tall, get them covered now or at least right after you start hearing their singing sounds.