When cicadas emerge and spotted lanternflies expand their range, a common question arises: Do cicadas prey on lanternflies? This article clarifies the dietary habits and ecological roles of both insects.
What Cicadas Consume
Cicadas possess specialized piercing-sucking mouthparts, which they use to feed on plant fluids. As nymphs, they spend years underground, drawing nutrients from the xylem fluid in tree roots. This underground feeding stage can last from a few years for annual cicadas to 13 or 17 years for periodical species.
Upon emerging as adults, cicadas continue to feed on plant sap from the xylem of young twigs and branches. Adult cicadas do not consume large quantities of food, as their primary focus during their short adult lifespan is reproduction. Their feeding mechanism is designed to extract sap, not to chew or consume other insects. Cicadas are herbivores and do not prey on other insects.
What Lanternflies Consume
Spotted lanternflies, like cicadas, are also insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts. Their diet centers on the phloem sap of a broad array of plants. Their host range is extensive, encompassing over 173 plant species, including agricultural crops like grapes, apples, and stone fruits, as well as various ornamental and hardwood trees.
The spotted lanternfly’s feeding can weaken plants, making them susceptible to disease and causing damage. As they feed, they excrete a sticky, sugary substance called honeydew, which can promote the growth of sooty mold on plants and surfaces below. This mold can further harm plants by reducing their ability to photosynthesize. The presence of honeydew can also attract other insects like bees and wasps.
Distinct Ecological Roles
Given their distinct feeding habits, cicadas do not prey on spotted lanternflies. Cicadas are sap-feeding herbivores that derive their nutrition exclusively from plant fluids. Their mouthparts are adapted for piercing plant tissue and sucking sap, not for capturing or consuming other insects.
Cicadas contribute to ecosystems by aerating soil through their nymphal tunneling and by providing a temporary food source for predators during their mass emergences. Their decaying bodies also return nutrients to the soil. In contrast, spotted lanternflies are invasive pests that damage agricultural and timber industries by feeding on plant phloem and excreting honeydew. While some native predators like praying mantises, certain spiders, and birds have been observed consuming spotted lanternflies, cicadas are not among them due to their specialized diet.