What do cicada nymphs eat to grow up, what trees do they like, what month do they emerge, and can they be eaten after emerging from their shells

The cicada nymph, also known as the Orient cicada, black cicada, cicada turtle, golden cicada, crawling grasshopper, etc., is a high-protein insect that has become a snack on the tables of large hotels due to its high edible value. So what do high-protein insect cicada nymphs eat to grow up? What trees do they like? What month do they emerge? Can they still be eaten after emerging from their shells?

What do they eat to grow up?

Cicada nymphs mainly live in the soil, sucking on plant roots, while adults feed on plant sap. Cicadas belong to the incomplete metamorphosis group, going from egg to larva (nymph), and after one molt, they become adults without passing through a pupal stage. The same “chan” comes from Buddhism.

What trees do they like?

Cicada nymphs generally choose healthy tree species with well-developed root systems, vigorous growth and abundant sap for breeding and planting, which is a key step in improving the efficiency and yield of golden cicada farming, such as poplar, elm, willow, paulownia or various fruit trees in orchards, all of which are tree species that golden cicadas like to eat. In addition, dwarf-type shrubs such as honeysuckle and Chinese wax are also crops that golden cicadas like to feed on. Golden cicadas cannot be farmed under trees such as pine and Picrasma quassioides. This is because the roots and stems of pine trees have a special pine fragrance, which golden cicadas do not like to feed on; the bitter sap of Picrasma quassioides trees is also not liked by golden cicada nymphs. It is best to intercrop some vine plants such as potatoes and sweet potatoes. Some )‘experts say that root and tuber crops need to be planted to meet the feeding requirements of golden cicadas, but this claim does not hold. According to many years of observation at our farm, golden cicadas do not survive by feeding on root and tuber plants; rather, the vines of root and tuber plants can provide better shade conditions for golden cicadas.

Time of emergence from the soil:

Cicada nymphs generally emerge from the soil around 9 p.m. until before dawn, and they are more commonly found in poplar and paulownia trees.

At the end of June, the nymphs begin to molt into adults, with a maximum lifespan of about 60-70 days.

In late July, female adults begin to lay eggs.

Regarding the nutritional value of cicada nymphs, early to mid-August is the peak egg-laying period, and eggs are mostly laid on twigs 4-5 mm thick. When a female adult lays eggs, she first pierces the bark with her ovipositor, inserts the ovipositor into the branch tissue, creating claw-shaped egg holes, and then lays eggs inside the xylem. Each egg hole contains 6-8 eggs. A single branch may hold more than 90 cicada eggs.

Harvest time:

After 2-3 years of burying egg branches, the cicada nymphs gradually begin to grow and develop to maturity. The harvest period is generally around the Summer Solstice each year. If there is soaking rain, plump and strong nymphs begin to emerge from the ground at 4-5 a.m., or after the rain clears, the nymphs use a pair of saw-like front legs to dig out of their holes in the moist, soft soil, climb out onto the ground for a short period of movement, and then climb up tree trunks or trellises to prepare for molting. After 2-4 hours they molt and become cicadas. Based on this characteristic of golden cicadas, after the Summer Solstice each year, if there is no rain and drought, the breeding site can be artificially watered thoroughly to induce the cicada nymphs to emerge. Before the nymphs emerge, or before the nymphs mature, a ring of smooth plastic film can be tied around the tree trunk 30 cm above the ground so that the nymphs cannot continue climbing up the tree, making harvesting easier. You can also use a flashlight for illumination and search for them on the ground and tree trunks under the trees at night. Or catch the newly emerged tender adults on the trees in the early morning.

Can they still be eaten after emerging from their shells?

Cicada nymphs can not only be used as medicine but can also be eaten, and they are very delicious. If the purpose is to eat them, it is best to bring a wide-mouthed bottle filled with water when catching them, and drowning or stunning them can prevent them from continuing to emerge. Cicada nymphs that have emerged from their shells and grown wings are very unpalatable and also look quite disgusting.