What Does a Cicada Bug Do

Cicadas are mostly beneficial. They prune mature trees, aerate the soil, and once they die, their bodies serve as an important source of nitrogen for growing trees. When cicadas come out, they’re eaten by just about anything with an insectivorous diet.

Are cicadas harmful?

“Cicadas are not dangerous to people, animals, pets, or structures,” says Godfrey Nalyanya, Ph. … “Dogs and cats might try to eat cicadas, but the insects alone do not pose any serious risk to them.” However, your pet might get an upset stomach, Best says, “as the exoskeleton may be difficult to digest.”

Why do cicadas fly at you?

If a cicada lands on you, it’s by accident. Cicadas fly around looking for hardwood trees or woody shrubs to land on, where they hope to attract a mate and lay their eggs. In places like cities, there are often more people than trees and the cicadas might have to spend some time flying around to find the right spot.