How To Get Rid Of Cicadas

Getting rid of cicadas as a home or business owner can be challenging, mainly because cicadas are temporary but highly abundant, and most control methods focus on prevention rather than eradication. Here’s what you can do to get rid of cicadas:

Understanding Cicadas

Cicadas are mostly harmless to humans—they don’t bite or sting—but their loud mating calls, sheer numbers, and potential to damage young trees can be a nuisance.
They emerge in cycles, often in massive numbers during “periodical” years, and adult cicadas live only a few weeks.

Physical Removal

Handpicking: This is feasible for small numbers. Wearing gloves, pick them off plants and dispose of them in soapy water to kill them quickly.
Netting: Cover small trees or shrubs with fine mesh or garden netting to prevent cicadas from laying eggs. This works best during peak emergence.
Vacuuming: For indoor or patio infestations, a handheld vacuum can remove cicadas quickly. Dispose of them afterward to prevent odor.

Protective Measures for Plants

Tree Wrapping: Wrap young trees with lightweight mesh or cloth to protect branches from egg-laying females.
Pruning: Remove weak or damaged branches before cicadas lay eggs to reduce potential damage.
Watering and Mulching: Keeping trees healthy with proper irrigation and mulching reduces stress, helping them withstand cicada activity.

Barriers and Deterrents

Screens: Ensure windows and doors have tight-fitting screens to keep cicadas out of indoor spaces.
Light Management: Cicadas are attracted to lights at night. Minimizing outdoor lighting or using yellow bug lights can reduce congregations near buildings.

Chemical Control (Limited Use)

Insecticides are generally not recommended for large-scale cicada infestations because they are temporary, and broad applications may harm beneficial insects. If necessary, use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap on young trees to prevent egg-laying, following label directions carefully.

Clean-Up

Promptly remove dead cicadas from landscaping to prevent odor and fungal growth.
Dispose of them in sealed bags or compost if allowed.

Prevention for Future Cycles

Encourage natural predators such as birds, squirrels, and beneficial insects.
Protect young trees during the emergence window with netting each year.
Maintain healthy trees so they can tolerate cicada activity without long-term damage.

DIY control of cicadas is mostly about protection and removal, rather than extermination. Adults live briefly, so damage is temporary. Physical barriers, pruning, and careful clean-up are the most effective strategies for a home or business owner.

The Best Way To Get Rid Of Cicadas

Our professional pest control is considered the most effective solution for cicada infestations for several reasons, even though cicadas are temporary and generally harmless. Here’s why:

Expertise in Timing and Life Cycle

Cicadas have a unique and predictable life cycle, often emerging in massive numbers.
Our professionals know exactly when cicadas are likely to appear and how to target them at the most vulnerable stages, such as when they are adults, before egg-laying begins.
Mistimed interventions by DIY efforts often fail because cicadas emerge quickly and in overwhelming numbers.

Effective Physical and Chemical Control

Our pest control experts have access to high-quality insecticides and repellents that are safe for trees, shrubs, and lawns when applied correctly.
We can strategically apply treatments to prevent egg-laying or reduce adult populations in concentrated areas without harming beneficial insects, which DIY treatments often risk.

Comprehensive Property Assessment

Cicadas affect trees, shrubs, gardens, and sometimes even structures.
We evaluate all vulnerable areas, including young or newly planted trees, patios, and rooflines, ensuring full coverage.
This prevents infestation control efforts from being localized in one spot while allowing damage elsewhere to continue.

Large-Scale Population Management

DIY approaches are feasible for small numbers but are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of a periodical cicada emergence.
Our professionals can handle large-scale infestations, such as those affecting commercial properties, orchards, or entire neighborhoods, where manual removal or netting would be impossible for an individual.

Preventing Long-Term Tree Damage

Cicadas can damage young trees and shrubs when females lay eggs in branches.
Our professionals apply preventive measures that reduce stress and long-term structural damage to plants.
We also provide ongoing pest protection services to ensure the property is protected for the full duration of the emergence.

Safety and Liability

Cicadas are harmless to humans, but our professional intervention avoids risk of injury from climbing ladders, handling chemicals improperly, or being overwhelmed by swarming adults.
We ensure that all treatments comply with local regulations and environmental safety standards.

While cicadas are a temporary nuisance, their massive numbers, short window of activity, and potential to damage young trees make our professional pest control the most effective and reliable solution. Our experts combine timely intervention, safe chemical use, and property-wide strategies that DIY methods simply cannot match.

Get Rid Of Cicadas With Miche Pest Control

Hiring our team of professionals at Miche Pest Control is an investment in long-term protection, expertise, and peace of mind. Here’s why:

Personalized Service and Local Expertise: We know the specific pest pressures in the area—such as seasonal rodent activity, regional ant species, or local termite threats. Our technicians understand the environment, climate, and building types common to the area, allowing them to provide targeted, effective treatments.
High-Quality, Comprehensive Solutions: As a full-service provider, we doe’t just treat surface problems; we address the root causes. From inspections and prevention to exclusion and ongoing maintenance, we deliver complete, integrated pest management (IPM) programs designed to both eliminate infestations and prevent future ones.
Accountability and Reliability: We live and die by our reputation. We rely on trust, referrals, and repeat business, meaning we're committed to doing the job right the first time and providing exceptional customer care.
Faster Response Times: We respond quickly to emergencies and schedule services sooner than large, national chains. Especially when you’re dealing with urgent pest issues like rodents or wasps, that speed matters.
Customized Treatment Plans: We tailor our services to your property’s specific needs instead of using one-size-fits-all chemical treatments. This results in safer, more effective pest control that minimizes environmental impact and reduces unnecessary pesticide use.
Highly Trained, Experienced Technicians: We invest in training, certification, and continuing education for our technicians. We stay current on the latest pest biology, control techniques, and safety standards.
Long-Term Prevention and Value: Our focus on providing quality service means fewer callbacks, longer-lasting protection, and better value over time. Instead of repeated, temporary fixes, you get strategic solutions that protect your home or business for the long run and provide better peace of mind.

Hiring our team means you get expertise you can trust, faster service, safer and more effective treatments, and long-term results that protect both your property and your peace of mind. Contact us today!