Newberry County Residents Report Nuisance Noise to South Carolina Sheriff
Residents alarmed by an unusual sound in Newberry County
Last week, a number of concerned residents of Newberry County, South Carolina, made calls to the local Sheriff’s office about a peculiar sound echoing throughout their neighborhoods like a constant siren or whine. What was the cause of the unusual noise nuisance? It turns out the source was nature’s resident heralds of spring: cicadas.
Cicadas – Harmless Musical Interlopers
A social media post from the Sheriff’s office specified that “The sound is cicadas. Cicadas are a superfamily of insects that appear each spring. The nymphs have lived underground for 13-17 years and now this time they are hatching.” While the dramatic emergence and the intense noise of cicadas can be annoying, the Sheriff reassured the residents, stating that “Although to some the noise is unendurable, they pose no danger to humans or pets. Unfortunately, it is the sounds of nature.”
Getting to Know the Cicadas
Cicadas are a type of thick-bodied insect with a unique lifecycle involving years spent underground before erupting en masse in large broods. They can easily be identified by their compound eyes, dramatic colors, and distinct calls. There are annual and periodical cicadas, different species coexisting throughout the U.S., particularly in the eastern and southern parts. However, the ones raising noise complaints in Newberry County are believed to be part of Brood XIX, a cohort of periodical cicadas that appear every 17 years.
The Melody of Cicadas
Cicadas are known for their loud, distinct calls which each male produces to establish dominance and engage in mating rituals. Interestingly, these calls become noticeably louder in the case of periodical cicadas due to their higher number. The ‘noisy’ reputation of cicadas is well-earned with the clicking sounds repeating 120-480 times per second, thanks to the unique tymbal organ, giving the impression of a continuous buzz to the human ear.
Cicadas: Friend, not Foe
While cicadas may not be harmful to humans or pets, it does not mean they can be consumed indiscriminately. Pets, however, may experience temporary digestive issues if they over-indulge in these buzzing snacks. Furthermore, cicadas provide significant benefit to ecosystems:
- They serve as food for a variety of predators.
- Their tunnelling activities can aerate soil and improve water filtration.
- As they decompose, they add nutrients back to the environment boosting soil fertility.
The Song of Cicadas Soon to Fade
After mating and egg-laying, the cicadas die off, typically after five weeks above ground. This means that the seemingly unending chorus of insects will soon taper off, returning Newberry County to its regular spring tempo. The residents of Newberry County can therefore take heart in the fact that the raucous concert is a mere fleeting phenomenon, soon to be replaced by the more usual sounds of nature.
Source: HERE News Network
Author: HERE News
