Summer of cicadas

Walk into our backyard at anytime of day or night, and you'll hear their sound. It sounds somewhat like a dozen rattlesnakes all shaking their rattles at the same time, and seems to come from everywhere.
It's the sound of cicadas -- those scary-looking bugs that look like giant-sized flies.
I love to hear their sound. It's the sound of summer.
And this year they've provided me with some entertaining moments.
There was the cicada I saw while on a walk with the dogs a week or so ago. It was on its back, seemingly dead. I gave it a little nudge with my foot, and it suddenly burst to life, making its rattly sound. Both me and my younger dog jumped at the same time.
A few days ago I was outside in the backyard with both kids and a resting cicada came to life -- surprising 12-year-old Skyler. Before I knew what was happening, he was yelling "Aaaahhh!" and nearly knocked me down trying to get away from the giant rattling bug. Hehehe.
And last night, Lindsay had an encounter with one of the bugs. We were in the part of the backyard she calls the "deep dark woods," which is actually just under the canopy of a big oak tree. I was looking into the distance, contemplating life, when Lindsay let out an ear-piercing scream. My first thought was to save her from whatever had scared her. That's when I heard and saw the cicada. Once again it had apparently been waiting for one of the members of my family to come along before making its noise for maximum scare effect.
I grabbed Lindsay as she screamed and removed her from the deep dark woods. As her screams changed to crying, I explained to her it was just a cicada. She calmed down and we had a good laugh. We even went back to look at it.
If we'd seen it, I'm sure we both would have screamed. Again.