A new creature has decided to take refuge in my greenhouse.

[BrassavolaStars]

Hello all,

While for the past couple of weeks I have been having pest problems, this time a non-pest has decided to invite itself into my greenhouse.

It is a very young cicada (I think) that has made a small burrow in the ground inside the greenhouse. It is kind of cute in its own way. Whenever I go inside I see it dart back into its burrow and peak it head out just a bit. I guess it must be happy in the GH as there aren’t any predators it has to worry about.

I think it makes a nice Greenhouse pet.

[Diane56Victor]

Don't they feed on plant sap, would they try the orchids?

[aliceinwl]

They feed on subterranean roots so I don’t see them being likely to attack orchids. It’s probably getting close to crawling out of the ground to molt into an adult.

[charlesf6]

Nice to have non-evasive critters hanging near bye!

[BrassavolaStars]

Originally Posted by aliceinwl

They feed on subterranean roots so I don’t see them being likely to attack orchids. It’s probably getting close to crawling out of the ground to molt into an adult.

I think it is molting too. It will have a hard time leaving the greenhouse though so I’ll keep checking periodically to make sure it gets out alright. I believe it is a dog-day cicada but I could be wrong. I wonder if it is a male and will be noisy. I do like the sound they make though and they are also very nice looking insects.

[Dollythehun]

Don't they generally molt in trees? Perhaps do a little more research? That would make me very nervous.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Don't they generally molt in trees? Perhaps do a little more research? That would make me very nervous.

It's larval, and they're in the ground at that stage. When it molts, it'll climb out and hang out somewhere while it sheds and becomes a cicada. IF that's what it is. I've only seen them coming out of the ground when they're ready to molt. Not scurrying in and out. It was likely there in larval stage when the greenhouse went up.

[Dollythehun]

I have never seen the scurrying in and out and frankly, it makes my skin crawl.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I have never seen the scurrying in and out and frankly, it makes my skin crawl.

Agreed.

[BrassavolaStars]

Originally Posted by BrassavolaStars

Whenever I go inside I see it dart back into its burrow and peak it head out just a bit. .

It is still in the greenhouse.

I guess I misspoke a bit. It doesn’t really quite ever come fully out of the burrow. It behaves much like certain crabs during the daytime. It will come to the edge of the burrow and go back inside if approached. I’ve yet to see it actually fully leave its tunnel. Most of the time, it seems to be wiggling around like it’s eating something in the burrow.

I’m not really sure it could any other insect as it is very large and has those characteristic wide-set eyes.