Are periodical cicadas dangerous?

  Normally cicadas do not bite or sting defensively, nor do they normally attack people. If a cicada lands on you it does so only because it finds you to be a convenient place to land. Basically, periodical cicadas can hurt you only if they mistake you for a tree branch and try to feed.

Periodical cicadas can cause physical damage to small trees or shrubs if too many feed from the plant or lay eggs in the twigs; such damage can cause breaking of peripheral twigs. Orchard and nursery owners probably should not plant young trees or shrubs in the years preceding an emergence of periodical cicadas, because young trees may be harmed by severe "flagging".Hand-painted T Shirt on www.t-cicada.com

      The simplest way to protect small trees and shrubs from damage is to physically prevent cicadas from feeding and ovipositing by covering the plants with screening material like cheesecloth. Periodical cicadas are often too numerous to make application of pesticides practical.