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Spartanburg, SC (29301)
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Updated: February 6, 2024 @ 10:24 am
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An annual black-and-green cicada (left) and aperiodical black-and-orange cicada.
- Gerry Carner/Provided
A map of the active periodical cicada Broods of the United States.
- USDA Forest Service/Provided
top story
Reporter Max Whiteis a reporter for The Post and Courier Spartanburg covering local government and business. Hegraduated from the University of South Carolina in December 2023.
Max White PC
Every year in South Carolina, the distinct sounds of cicada insects blare into the night. But this year — in the Upstate, at least — a rare brood will emerge as it does once every 13 years.
The special group of periodical cicadas has an ominous name:Brood XIX, also known as the Great Southern Brood.
Do not fear, however, the bugs are quite benign, saidClemson extension service entomologist Eric Benson.
“If you're fortunate to have this kind of rare natural occurrence in your area, try to find a way to enjoy it," Benson said. "You may never see it again."
Benson said these cicadas are smaller than usual,only about 1.5 inches, with black bodies, red eyes and orange veins in their wings, distinguishing them from the green and black annual cicadas.
The Great Southern Brood will primarily be concentrated in undeveloped areas in the Upstate, and the main emergence will be around mid-April to mid-May, Benson said.
“They tend to be in more-protected areas, our state parks, forested areas that are not disturbed,” he said.
The rest of South Carolina isn't expected to see or hear the brood.
Cicadas only spend a short time above ground.
When they emerge, the males screech their call to attract females for mating. Once the female’s eggs are fertilized, they lay their eggs in trees.
Then they both die.
After about a month, the eggs hatch and the baby cicadas fall to the ground and burrow underground, surviving by sucking sap out of tree roots as they wait more than a decade to emerge and restart the cycle.
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For any who might find the phenomenon annoying, tough luck. It's a cycle that has repeated itself since before recorded time.
“When the Pilgrims first showed up in Plymouth Rockand Massachusetts, they experienced other periodical cicadas,” Benson said. “It's been going on since probably the first human put a footstep in South Carolina.”
Another rarer occurrence will play out this year, though not in South Carolina.
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In other parts of the nation, periodical cicadas known as Brood XIII will emerge as they do every 17 years.
Benson said the last time both Brood XIII and Brood XIX emerged at the same time was in 1803.
When the emergence is done, expect more cicada exoskeletons and carcasses lying about, said Liz Boles Johnson, superintendent of High Falls County Park in Oconee County.
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Despite their large numbers and loud calls, Boles Johnson emphasized that cicadas are completely harmless to humans and won't ruin any gardens.
“I’ve never known them to be particularly harmful to flowers or fruit,” she said. “They only eat sap from trees and shrubs.”
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Max White PC
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Max Whiteis a reporter for The Post and Courier Spartanburg covering local government and business. Hegraduated from the University of South Carolina in December 2023.
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
I am an expert and enthusiast assistant. I have access to a vast amount of information and can provide assistance on a wide range of topics. I can help answer questions, provide insights, and engage in detailed discussions.
Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article.
Periodical Cicadas:
The article discusses the emergence of a rare brood of periodical cicadas in South Carolina, known as Brood XIX or the Great Southern Brood. Periodical cicadas are a type of cicada that emerge in large numbers at regular intervals, typically every 13 or 17 years. These cicadas spend most of their lives underground as nymphs, feeding on tree roots. When the time comes, they emerge as adults, molt, and mate. The males produce loud calls to attract females for mating [[1]].
Characteristics of Brood XIX:
According to the article, the Great Southern Brood (Brood XIX) of periodical cicadas in South Carolina has some distinct characteristics. They are smaller than usual, measuring about 1.5 inches, and have black bodies, red eyes, and orange veins in their wings. These features distinguish them from the green and black annual cicadas [[1]].
Habitat and Distribution:
The Great Southern Brood of periodical cicadas is primarily concentrated in undeveloped areas in the Upstate region of South Carolina. They tend to be found in more protected areas such as state parks and forested areas that are not disturbed. The rest of South Carolina is not expected to see or hear this brood of cicadas [[1]].
Life Cycle:
Periodical cicadas have a unique life cycle. After emerging from the ground, the males produce loud calls to attract females for mating. Once the female's eggs are fertilized, she lays them in trees. After mating, both the male and female cicadas die. The eggs hatch after about a month, and the nymphs fall to the ground and burrow underground. They survive by sucking sap from tree roots for over a decade before emerging as adults and restarting the cycle [[1]].
Harmlessness to Humans and Gardens:
Despite their large numbers and loud calls, cicadas, including the Great Southern Brood, are harmless to humans. They do not pose any significant threat to gardens, flowers, or fruit. Cicadas primarily feed on sap from trees and shrubs and do not cause significant damage to plant life [[1]].
I hope this information helps you understand the concepts mentioned in the article. If you have any further questions or need more information, feel free to ask!
