No one wants a lawn full of dead bugs – my tricks for cleaning up cicada carcasses, don’t miss a place they might hide
CICADAS are back, which for many means a tiresome clean up process.
One pro gave her advice on tidying up after an infestation hits your lawn, leaving their crunchy shells everywhere.
Courtney Walsh, a house cleaner on the platform , spilled her seven tips for making a yard cicada-free.
The creepy crawlers typically come out of their burrows every 17 or 13 years, depending on the brood.
This year, both broods are out in some parts of the country, affecting states like Illinois.
Their short time above soil means a potentially daunting cleaning process.
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Walsh's first tip is to tackle the issue as quickly as possible.
She recommended staying on top of the clean-up process swiftly in order to avoid a bad look or unpleasant odors.
"This could look like weekly sweeps of the yard, patio, and any decking to remove dead bugs," she said.
Walsh added advice for how to make the carcass removal quicker for larger spaces.
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"The dead exoskeletons of cicadas can easily be blown into a corner or pile by using a leaf blower," she said.
"Using a leaf blower this way can speed up the cleaning process, especially for large areas like lawns, driveways, and patios."
Once all the carcasses are gathered in one place, Walsh recommended treating them like fallen leaves and rounding them up with a rake.
She also explained how to dispose of the critters, depending on if you're a homeowner or renting.
"One option is to dig holes and bury the piles of exoskeletons and carcasses," she said.
"However, for renters or those without suitable space to bury dead cicadas, setting up yard trash bags is an easy and effective way of disposing of them."
For those with swimming pools, she recommended using a pool net to catch floating carcasses.
Walsh weighed in on how to set your space up for success before the creatures show up.
"Before all the cicadas emerge, it’s a good idea to install fine mesh or netting around areas you want to protect, such as garden beds and patios," she said.
"This can prevent cicadas from dying in these spaces, making cleanup easier and protecting them from any damage during cleanup."
She also pointed out a place where cicadas tend to hide — the gutter.
"A lot of carcasses can end up in your guttering and outdoor pipework, potentially causing flooding and other problems if they aren’t cleaned out before a wet spell," she said.
"To clean your gutters of dead cicadas, grab a bucket and carefully bring it up with you on an extension ladder.
"Once at the top, start scooping out carcasses with a gutter scoop, along with any other debris, into the bucket."
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She recommended composting the remains over throwing them in the trash.
"If you do go down this route, make sure not to add too many at once," she said.
What are cicadas?
Unlike annual cicadas, periodical cicadas only come out en masse every 13 or 17 years.
- There are more than 3,000 cicada species but only seven are periodical cicadas (Magicicada).
- Most species have black bodies, red eyes, and red-orange wing veins.
- They are only found in North America while annual cicadas can emerge around the rest of the world.
- This year’s dual event will feature Brood XIII — which emerges every 17 years in the Midwest and Brood XIX.
- According to the Environmental Protection Agency, cicadas are not harmful to humans, pets, household gardens, or crops.
Source: National Geographic