Cicadas are in no short supply, and too many can lead to twig dieback on trees and shrubs. Cicada killers play an important role not only in controlling the cicada population but also in aerating soil by creating burrows. Because they prefer bare soil, their burrowing is a result of turf decline, not the cause of it. Still, instead of applauding the industrious cicada killers, homeowners too often give in to knee-jerk reactions and try to exterminate them.
Originally published in Organic Gardening Magazine August/September 2013.