Virginia forestry officials report widespread damage to oaks and other trees from this year's arrival of cicadas.
The damage is the result of cicada females laying eggs in the thin-barked outer branches of trees and shrubs, the Virginia Department of Forestry said. The females slice into the branch, then deposit up to 80 eggs.
A single female can create about 30 nests, laying as many as 600 eggs, forest health specialist Chris Asaro said.
The egg-laying can cause structural damage known as “flagging.” It is visible across much of the state's Piedmont and coastal plain.
Forestry officials said most medium-to-large trees will not suffer any serious long-term damage.
The department said the good news is an outbreak of this brood of cicada won't occur for 17 years.
