South-Carolina

Cicada ‘roar’: Concerned SC residents call police. What to know about cicada emergence.

Published

1 year ago

April 29, 2024

Cicada ‘roar’: Concerned SC residents call police. What to know about cicada emergence.

Last week, the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office was swarmed by phone calls from local residents who were concerned about a particular sound they were hearing outdoors.

“We had several calls about a noise in the air that sounds like a siren, or a whine, or a roar,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.

So, what exactly was all the buzz about?

“The sound is cicadas,” the post said. “Cicadas are a super family of insects that appear each spring. The nymphs have lived underground for 13-17 years and now this time they are hatching.”

Brood XIX cicadas may be on the rise in the Upstate, but the sheriff’s office has assured residents that the insects are just a nuisance ― not a threat.

“Although to some the noise is annoying, they pose no danger to humans or pets. Unfortunately it is the sounds of nature.” the post said.

What are cicadas, and what do they look like?

According to Clemson University, cicadas are thick-bodied, plant-feeding insects that can be found clinging to trees and vegetation. They measure 1-2 inches long and have compound eyes in shades of black and red, although some may emerge with blue or white eyes. Having two eyes is better than one, but cicadas are lucky enough to have three called the ocelli, which are located in the middle of their head. The wings of the insects are thick with prominent veins, and their antennae are small.

Cicadas are known for their loud, shrill noise and exoskeletons (discarded shells). Along with hemipterans like leafhoppers and spittlebugs, cicadas belong to the suborder Auchenorrhyncha. Their presence can be found worldwide. In the U.S., they live in the eastern and southern parts of the country.

Annual cicadas and periodical cicadas are oftentimes confused with one another. In South Carolina, annual cicadas, which are black and green, can be heard every year during the summer. Periodical cicadas are smaller at 1.5 inches. They are black with red eyes and orange veins within their wings, only emerging every 13-17 years. Broods XIX are periodical cicadas.

“People hear the annual cicadas every year,” said Eric Benson, Clemson University’s extension entomologist. “In the summertime when it’s hot, dog day cicadas can be heard. In the late afternoon or evening, you’ll hear that whining in the trees. Those are the cicadas, the males calling to the females. But you know, that may be tens of hundreds (of cicadas), not tens of thousands or millions. It’s just the sheer number that makes them so loud.”

How do cicadas produce their sound?

There are over 3,000 cicada species, each one having a distinct sound, according to Britannica. Males are the only cicadas to produce the sound, which is used to establish authority and attract females into mating. Prior to copulation, a courting call is also produced. Another use of sound is to deter predators. Periodical cicadas are louder than annual cicadas due to their large numbers.

The tymbal organ is a part of the cicada anatomy that is distinct from other insects, each male possessing a pair of the circular, ridged members on the back and side surface of the first abdominal segment, according to Britannica. When the tymbal muscle attached to the membrane is contracted, it bends, making a clicking sound. As the muscle relaxes, the tymbal goes back into place. The contractions are rapid in succession, moving 120-480 times a second and creating a sound that seems continuous to the human ear. The sound is amplified by air sacs containing resonant frequencies similar to the tymbal vibration frequencies. This is why cicadas sound like they are buzzing.

Are cicadas harmful to humans or pets?

Cicadas are not harmful to humans or pets and do not sting or bite, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Although they are not a threat to pets, cats or dogs that consume too many of the tiny creatures may come down with a temporary upset stomach, which may lead to vomiting.

But if you see a cicada, don’t squash it ― these buzzing bugs have environmental benefits:

∎ They are a food source for birds and other predators.

∎ They can aerate lawns and improve water filtration into the ground.

∎ When they decompose, they add nutrients to the soil.

When will the cicadas die off?

Once male and female cicadas have mated and the female has laid its eggs, USA TODAY reports the insects will die after spending only five weeks above ground, according to National Geographic. In other cases, adult periodical cicadas live for just three or four weeks, according to Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

Nina Tran covers trending topics. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com

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South-Carolina

South Carolina Picks Up Commitment From Sacred Heart Right Hander

Published

15 hours ago

June 6, 2025

Press Room

South Carolina Picks Up Commitment From Sacred Heart Right Hander

South Carolina picks up another commitment out of the transfer portal this week as right hander Elijah Foster announces his decision to come to Columbia on Instagram.

Foster spent the last two seasons in Fairfield, Connecticut, playing for the Pioneers. The 6-foot and 190 pound sophomore out of Plainfield, New Jersey, was 5-3 in 15 starts on the mound in 2025. Foster had a 5.23 ERA in 72.1 innings pitched, with 76 strikeouts, and 42 runs given up.

South Carolina is no stranger to Foster’s game on the mound. The Gamecocks and Pioneers matched up for the opening series in 2025, where Foster was the game two starter for Sacred Heart. He would go on to have a rough outing in his first start of 2025. The Pioneers would make a pitching change after the third inning of Foster’s start. He would finish giving up six earned runs (nine in total), three strikeouts, and six walks.

The Gamecocks are retooling a roster that has lost 15 players in the transfer portal since it opened on June 2. Foster joins fellow pitchers Josh Gregoire, Cullen Horowicz, and Amp Phillips as additions to the pitching staff this portal cycle.

Join the community:

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking “Follow” on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to follow us on X at @GamecocksDigest and on Facebook!

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South-Carolina

South Carolina's Crony Capitalist Culture Continues To Fail Taxpayers – FITSNews

Published

1 day ago

June 6, 2025

Press Room

South Carolina's Crony Capitalist Culture Continues To Fail Taxpayers – FITSNews

Looks like yet another ‘economic development’ deal is going south…

South Carolina’s crony capitalist approach to “economic development” is staring down yet another costly setback as AESC – a Japanese-owned electric vehicle battery manufacturer – has paused construction on its $1.6 billion facility in Florence, S.C.

“AESC has informed the state of South Carolina and our local partners that due to policy and market uncertainty, we are pausing construction at our South Carolina facility at this time,” the company noted in a statement. “We anticipate being able to resume construction once circumstances stabilize.”

The company broke ground on its 1.5 million-square foot facility less than two years ago, an event its leaders hailed as “a landmark moment in the evolution of South Carolina’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle industry.”

AESC’s Florence plant was supposed to create more than 1,620 jobs – although as we note often here at FITSNews, such rosy projections associated with taxpayer-funded handouts rarely pan out.

***

When this deal was authorized in 2022, state taxpayers shelled out more than $255 million in subsidies – not counting recurring job development tax credits. Local subsidies pushed the tab even higher – to more than $400 million. An additional $111 million was earmarked for a second AESC facility, but that project was recently folded into the first plant.

“I look forward to the transformative impact that AESC’s historic investments will have on not only the Pee Dee but all of South Carolina,” governor Henry McMaster said at the time the incentives were approved.

The governor – who has presided over numerous other crony capitalist failures – offered similarly lofty rhetoric at the groundbreaking of the plant in June of 2023.

“Today, South Carolina is proud to celebrate AESC as the company embarks on a historic chapter in our state,” McMaster said. “Florence County has been ripe for an investment of this magnitude — one that will transform local communities and create generational wealth for South Carolinians. The groundbreaking for AESC’s battery cell gigafactory is a landmark moment in the evolution of South Carolina’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle industry.”

Was it, though? This project is now officially without a timeline while taxpayers are, once again, left holding the bag.

When will the next domino fall? It might be sooner than you think…

***

RELATED | MORE PROBLEMS FOR VOLVO IN SOUTH CAROLINA

***

As noted just last week in the aftermath of yet another corporate welfare fail, FITSNews has nothing but contempt for government-subsidized economic development (a.k.a. crony capitalism).

“We reject crony capitalist handouts on principle,” our outlet wrote back in 2015. “They are patently unfair, and South Carolina’s escalating use of them to reward favored corporations at the expense of small businesses and taxpayers is killing our state’s consumer economy.”

As crony capitalist schemes like these keep escalating, South Carolina continues to lag behind the rest of the nation in jobs and income growth.

When will the state’s “Republican” leaders try something different? How many more of these command economic failures is it going to take for them to finally learn their lesson?

Count on FITSNews to keep our audience in the loop regarding the status of these projects… and to keep holding accountable those responsible for these failures.

***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…

Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.

***

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South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for June 4, 2025

Published

2 days ago

June 5, 2025

Press Room

South Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for June 4, 2025

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at June 4, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from June 4 drawing

05-17-23-35-45, Powerball: 24, Power Play: 10

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from June 4 drawing

Midday: 2-3-0, FB: 6

Evening: 3-9-6, FB: 0

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from June 4 drawing

Midday: 5-0-9-6, FB: 6

Evening: 5-9-1-5, FB: 0

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 4 drawing

Midday: 09

Evening: 09

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from June 4 drawing

02-03-20-29-33

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from June 4 drawing

13-33-35-36-56, Powerball: 02

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.

Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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