Conserv FS News

CICADAS

2024 is a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois, where Broods XIII and XIX will be emerging throughout much of the state at the same time. The simultaneous emergence is the first time since 1803 and will not happen again until 2245. Cicadas do not pose a threat to humans or pets, although newly planted trees or shrubs may be a different story.
Both species of cicadas are large-bodied, have large compound eyes, and are sometimes mistakenly called locusts. Characteristics include male cicadas singing during the day to attract females. Typically, periodical cicada emergences consist of three species that can be distinguished by the male songs and by slight differences in their appearance.

Periodical Cicadas

Periodical cicadas are among the longest-lived insects on the planet, living for 13 or 17 years. They spend most of that time living underground, feeding on tree roots. Once the soil warms enough in the spring to be 64 degrees Fahrenheit at 8 inches deep, they will begin to emerge, usually around late May or early June. The nymphs typically emerge from the soil in the evening and climb up trees or other objects and molt, leaving behind the familiar cicada shells or shed exoskeleton.
Male cicadas will start singing four or five days after they emerge. They will gather in trees and sing together to attract females. Females lack the structures known as tybals that produce sound, so only males will sing. Each species of cicada has a distinctive song they produce.
After mating, female periodical cicadas will lay their eggs in the new growth of woody plants. They prefer branches about the width of a pencil or a little larger, up to ½ to 1-inch in diameter. They will use their saw-like ovipositor, or egg-laying organ, to cut into branches and lay 10 to 20 eggs before moving further down the branch. Each female will lay around 500 to 600 eggs.
After about a month, the adult cicadas will begin to die. Large piles of cicadas can accumulate under trees and can smell unpleasant, similar to roadkill. However, their decaying bodies will serve as fertilizer for plants.
Six to 10 weeks after they are laid, the eggs will begin to hatch. The tiny cicada nymphs will drop to the ground and begin feeding, often on grass roots. Over time, they will dig down into the soil, 8-12 inches deep, and feed on tree roots for the next 13 or 17 years.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

See How Other Industry Companies Performed in 2023

The outlook for 2024 is optimistic, with 64 percent of landscape professionals polled expecting to see increased profitability. NALP surveyed member contractor companies in November 2023 and received responses from 328 businesses across the country. Of those participants, 69% said they either met their budget goals or were within 1-9% above or below their profitability goals.

Better than Expected Services

Many companies reported certain services performed with higher-than-expected revenue. Forty percent of companies had higher-than-expected revenue in landscape maintenance and enhancements.
Installation (construction and plant install), irrigation installation or maintenance, and lawn care and pest control also had higher-than-expected revenue.
Installation was particularly strong for design-build companies, with 43% reporting better-than-expected revenue compared to 36% of all respondents.
For the commercial-focused companies, 34% reported higher-than-expected revenue in irrigation installation and maintenance (compared to 23% for all respondents). Forty-three percent of commercial businesses also had higher-than-expected revenue in plant and construction installation compared to 36% of all respondents.

Top Challenges

When it came to challenges, not surprisingly, 51% cited staffing issues as their top business challenge. Nearly 89% said they plan to add to their staff next year if they can find qualified employees.
Lower customer demand and higher cost of equipment and products were the other top concerns (at 17% each) for the general respondent pool. Residential-focused companies (23%) and lawn care companies (26%) reported consumer demand as the number one business challenge compared to commercial operations (9%).
The number one challenge for landscape maintenance companies was higher equipment and product costs, with 22% listing it as their No. 1 challenge.
Higher interest rates, supply chain issues, historically low snowfall, drought conditions, high staffing costs, and clients not being able to secure financing were some of the other issues respondents listed.
The higher interest rates were more of a concern for commercial-focused businesses than the rest of the respondents.

iLandscape Show: Jan 31 - Feb 2, 2024

LANDSCAPING MARKET AND INDUSTRY TRENDS

The U.S. landscaping industry encompasses a wide range of businesses, from small family-run operations to large corporations. It’s driven by the growing demand for aesthetically pleasing and sustainable outdoor spaces that skilled landscapers can achieve.

• As of 2023, landscaping services in the U.S. had an estimated market value of around $176 billion.
• The number of landscaping industry businesses has increased by 3.2% on average every year from 2018 to 2023.
• BrightView earned the spot as the most profitable landscaping company of 2022, making over $2.5 billion that year, based on a 2022 report.
• TruGreen was the second most profitable landscaping company of 2021, making $1.5 billion that year.
• Based on the National Gardening Survey of 2,601 U.S. adults, 19% of respondents planned to convert a portion of their lawn to a native wildflower landscape in 2021.

LANDSCAPING LABOR AND DEMOGRAPHICS FACTS

The landscaping and lawn care industry is essential to maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces and a significant contributor to U.S. employment. Landscaping businesses employ millions of workers and landscape contractors nationwide, making it a crucial sector for job creation and growth.

• The states with the largest number of landscaping employees in 2022 were California, Florida, and Texas.
• California had more than 105,000 landscaping workers as of 2022.
• As of 2022, Florida had 61,550 landscaping businesses, the highest of any state.
• The five top-paying places in the U.S. for landscaping workers in 2022 were Washington, D.C., Washington State, Massachusetts, Alaska, and Rhode Island.

SPOTTED LANTERNFLY IDENTIFIED IN ILLINOIS

Nuisance Pest—Does Not Present Human or Animal Health Concerns

SPRINGFIELD, IL—The Illinois Department of Agriculture has confirmed the first detection of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma deliculata) in Illinois. Following a report of a live adult on Sept. 16, state, federal, and local officials coordinated a site visit near the area of the report and identified a moderately populated area of spotted lanternfly (SLF) on Sept. 18. Specimens were collected and submitted for identification, and confirmatory results were received on Sept. 26. The spotted lanternfly does not present any human or animal health concerns.

"If there is a silver lining associated with spotted lantern fly in Illinois, it is that we have no reason to believe that widespread plant or tree death will result from its presence," said Scott Schirmer, Illinois Department of Agriculture's Nursery and Northern Field Office Section Manager. "This is likely going to be a nuisance pest that interferes with our ability to enjoy outdoor spaces and may have some impact on the agritourism industry, including orchards, pumpkin patches, and vineyards."

"Spotted lanternfly has been inching closer to the Midwest and Illinois for close to a decade," said Jerry Costello II, Illinois Department of Agriculture Director. "We have had a multi-agency team working to prepare for this scenario - including efforts on readiness, informing and educating the industry and the public, as well as monitoring early detection,"

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive plant hopper native to eastern Asia. First found in the U.S. in southeastern Pennsylvania in 2014, SLF has continued to spread throughout the eastern U.S. and recently into the Midwest. Confirmed identifications of SLF have been recorded in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, in addition to some eastern and southeastern states.

SLF feeds on a wide variety of plants, including a strong affinity to the invasive tree of heaven (TOH), grapes (both wild and cultivated), and maple trees. These plants should be targeted for any monitoring activities. When feeding, SLF produces honeydew, a sticky liquid that often coats or accumulates on the foliage and other parts of plants. SLF is believed to move easily on wood surfaces and products, vehicles such as trains, outdoor articles, and more—making it a challenging pest to contain and anticipate. Prevention and early detection are vital to limiting its ability to move and intrude upon new areas.

Persons are highly encouraged to report any believed sightings of SLF to lanternfly@illinois.edu. Photos are necessary to verify a report and to aid in identification.

"IDOA is working with federal and local partners to determine the full extent of the infestation," said Dr. Michael Woods, Division Manager of Natural Resources. "Although we cannot determine with any degree of certainty how SLF has arrived here, efforts are being undertaken to understand its movement and behavior better."

The research and regulatory communities continue learning about SLF, its behaviors, potential impacts, and effective management strategies - despite ongoing endeavors to minimize its spread and the associated impact on industry and natural resources.

PROTECT YOUR CUSTOMERS' EVERGREENS THIS WINTER

Anti-desiccant spray applied in the fall coats the foliage of your plants with this layer of organic "sealant" to help the plants resist the drying power of winter winds and conserve the moisture vital to their good health. Properly applied, a winter protection spray will safeguard your valuable plants through the cold months and gradually break down as warm weather approaches, and your trees and shrubs begin spring growth.

 

 

TURF & ORNAMENTAL ANTI-TRANSPIRANT

Dealing with environmental stress is a constant battle. Preventing damage brought on by freezing winter temperatures and exposure to salt can be addressed easily. AquaLock is a unique wax dispersion that forms a thin, flexible, water-repellent layer on plant surfaces. AquaLock protects plants against drought, extreme temperatures, wind, and sunscald. AquaLock may extend watering intervals for turf and ornamental crops.

Features & Benefits

• Will not clog nozzles
• Washes easily off spray equipment
• Free of volatile organic compounds
• Stable at temperatures above freezing

 

The Good Guys

Every once in a while, it pays to stop and think for a minute. It is human nature to see an insect and want to get rid of it. We should rethink that. There are a lot of harmless insects. More importantly, some help us. Our scouts have been bringing in good guys regularly, including ladybug larvae, a pupating ladybug, and an assassin bug nymph. These insects feed on other insects. Sometimes they wander into our homes and become a nuisance, but when they are outside, they benefit the gardener. The bottom line is to take a minute to think before you squash or spray an insect. Sometimes they are the good guys.

Source: Morton Arboretum