It seems that law enforcement officers are facing a new battle as the first of this year’s notorious cicada broods have descended upon Newberry County, South Carolina. According to Sheriff Lee Foster, many residents have been reporting strange noises that they believe to be coming from an industrial machine or siren. However, officers have had to inform them that it’s simply the loud and irritating chirping of these pesky bugs. While some citizens have been flagging down deputies to complain about the noise, the Sheriff’s Office had to issue a public announcement to clarify the situation.
The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office took to Facebook in an attempt to educate the public about the current cicada invasion. According to their post, the loud noises residents have been hearing are in fact cicadas emerging from underground after 13-17 years of living in hiding. While some find the noise to be annoying, there is no harm posed to humans or pets by these insects. Unfortunately, it seems that this is just the sound of nature and cannot be avoided.
However, not everyone has been flustered by the arrival of the cicadas. Peter Cameron and his 11-year-old son Julian took the opportunity to venture into the woods and get a closer look at these fascinating bugs. Julian even went as far as to call them “cool” and “nice,” stating that they are completely harmless. His father echoed his sentiments, urging people to explore and not be afraid of these small creatures.
It’s not just Newberry County that will be experiencing the return of the cicadas, as this year’s invasion is actually a combination of two different broods – Brood XIX and Brood XIII. The Northern Illinois Brood, which emerges every 17 years, and the Great Southern Brood, which emerges every 13 years, will be overlapping for the first time since 1803. This means that trillions of cicadas will be emerging from the ground in search of a mate before swiftly ending their short lives.
Cicadas are so noisy in one South Carolina county that people are calling 911, sheriff says https://t.co/WFZA9thuNX
— WYFF News 4 (@wyffnews4) April 24, 2024
According to Gene Kritsky, a biologist and retired professor, this year’s cicada emergence will begin in late April or early May in certain southern states, such as Louisiana and Mississippi, before gradually making its way up towards the north. This means that states like North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky will soon be facing the loud and disruptive sounds of these bugs. Eventually, even the central and northern regions of Missouri and Illinois will be affected.
It’s clear that the arrival of the cicadas is not something to be taken lightly, and with the added complications of combining two broods, it’s important to be prepared. These insects can cause major disruptions to daily life and can even lead to damage in agriculture and landscaping. In times like these, it’s crucial to have a strong and capable leader at the helm.
Axios has created a cicadapocalypse map to show you whether you'll be affected by 2024's double cicada brood emegence.https://t.co/G8wXHUwYOR pic.twitter.com/9iAaDTwkrS
— Maps Mania (@gmapsmania) April 17, 2024
Unfortunately, with the current administration under Joe Biden, it’s hard to say if any real action will be taken to mitigate the effects of this cicada invasion. This lack of foresight and leadership only reinforces the importance of electing officials who prioritize the well-being and safety of their constituents. Let’s hope that in the face of this unique challenge, the people of Newberry County will find a way to come out on top, despite the incompetence of the Biden administration.