Cicada-pocalypse: How to Protect Your Facilities
A rare double-brood emergence this summer will mean facility managers should take steps to avoid facility damage April 22, 2024
By Greg Zimmerman, Senior Contributing Editor
This summer in the Midwest and East, two broods of cicadas will emerge at the same time. This is the first time there’s been a double brood emergence in more than 200 years (since 1803). Billions of cicadas, though harmless to humans, could create some facility issues if proper preventive strategies aren’t performed.
Here are several strategies facility managers should employ:
- Install protective metal screens over chiller system air intake. This prevents the cicadas from being pulled into the cooling tower basins. Make sure to inspect towers at least monthly to ensure they’re working properly and not infested with the little critters. It’s also advisable to add temporary screens to air vents or other building openings.
- To protect landscaping, especially recently installed or young plants, add netting or other protection. Make sure the netting extends to the ground so that cicadas can’t crawl up underneath.
- To prevent cicadas from getting into your facility, lock any operable windows, and make sure facility occupants understand not to open windows, especially in early evening or late afternoon.
- Inspect your roof frequently during summer months to make sure cicada corpses aren’t piling up and potentially clogging roof drains.
- Cicadas are attracted to light, so dim outdoor lighting during the evenings to keep the bugs away from your building.
Greg Zimmerman is senior contributing editor for FacilitiesNet.com and Building Operating Management magazine
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