This is a cicada...
It is a fairly large bug, approximately 1.5 to 2 inches in length.
Where I live, we are suffering through the year of the 13 year Cicada. These bugs emerge from the ground every 13 years. They climb into the trees, shed their exoskeleton, open wings... A few days later, the males of the species begin trying to attract a mate, which is done with a buzzing/chirping call. They are able to fly, but aren't very good at it and tend to ram things a lot.
Problem is, there are quite literally millions upon millions of these things. If you have never experienced cicadas like this, let me just tell you that the buzzing calls of millions of cicadas is enormously loud. Fortunately, they only last about 5 weeks, and they quit their infernal noise making when the sun goes down.
Anyway, today I mowed my lawn. Apparently, a Craftsman 6.75hp lawn mower engine makes sounds like sweet love to these bugs. I was getting swarmed! Fortunately, the bugs don't sting or bite, but because they are so large and tend to crash/ram into things, it was like getting pelted with small stones. Annoying more then anything.
My 8 year old daughter and a friend of hers were playing inside. I went in and asked them if they wanted to defend me against the evil Cicada horde while I mowed. They were willing to volunteer for the hazardous duty!
I equipped each of them with a badminton racquet.
As I mowed, the two little girls had a blast running around the yard whacking the bugs as fast as they could. It was hilarious to watch. I couldn't help drawing the comparison to defending against the horde in Aces High.
When I finished, I told them that they were the best two little wirbles I had seen in quite some time. They just gave me a blank stare.
