Ovipositional Activity of Periodical Cicada on Apple Varieties

Abstract

Adults of brood XIV of the periodical cicadas, Magicicadaspp. emerged in southwestern Ohio in 1974. A survey of a 2 acre apple variety planting at Ripley, Ohio, in the spring of 1975, showed that there were differences in the amount of cicada ovipositional damage among certain apple varieties.

Female periodical cicadas, Magicicadaspp., lay eggs in many species of deciduous trees or shrubs (5, 7). Apple, peach, pear and grape are noted to be particularly susceptible to cicada ovipositional injury which can result in up to 95% damage to terminal shoots of young fruit trees (2, 4). However, no information is available to substantiate a preference for a particular fruit variety and/or rootstock combination. This paper reports observations of periodical cicada (Brood XIV) ovipositional sites in 1974 in a planting of apples in southern Ohio.