June bugs and Cicadas-- or crazy bugs that live in Tennessee

So, I thought it would be a great idea to take the kids to the Rec Center pool... I had been avoiding going there assuming that it would be super crowded on a hot day.
Well, turns out not to be the case  because
a) there are more sunny days in TN than in WA so the pool isn't as big of a deal, and
b) many people have neighborhood pools, so it was mostly empty.

Most importantly I am thinking-- the lack of people was due to a preponderance of green June beetles, or June bugs. I have never seen these at my house, or anywhere else other than this pool.

At first I thought it was crazy carpenter bees dive-bombing my head, over and over...making a loud buzzing noise. All I could think of  is 'what the heck has come over these bees?! They have never done that before..' Then I got a good look at what it was, and it wasn't a carpenter bee... *shudder*

Rowan getting a little too close for comfort to me with this fellow...

Getting ready to land on Dylan's forehead..

These crazy bugs run into EVERYTHING. Your head. Your ear. Your body. Walls. They get stuck in your hair.  They are the most ridiculous, clumsy beetles I have ever seen.  After running into something, they get stuck on their backs on the ground, only to finally get up and do it all over again, and they are loud! Not only is their buzzing loud, but when they run into things, they do so with a loud "Thwack" or "Ping" depending on what they run into. I hit one with my magazine and it made a loud "ker-ping!" as I batted that thing to far right field.

As the kids were going down the slides, they were swarming around and landing on kids' heads. Dylan was running around trying to catch them and naming them. (of course.) Rowan was trying to fling them on me (I know, shocking) 

Meanwhile, I was doing my own interpretive dance in the sun chair, waving my arms wildly as 2 June bugs and a rogue butterfly carried out their attack.

I have never seen these bugs anywhere but at this pool.  Next time I think I need to bring a tennis racket. PING!

Our next runner up in the creepy bug pageant  is the Cicada. I have never heard this noise before. It sounds almost like a rattle snake in the trees. We first heard it when we went to Atlanta for the 4th of July. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWWyC-7AeDs

They totally creep me out... I haven't seen on yet, but you can hear them in the trees, and if one ever comes near me, it  will be pulverized- YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED CICADAS!

 There are not too many at my house, but there are other places around town that they are more prevalent and noisy. 

 the sounds of crickets complete the sultry Southern summer nights--but we  know why people have screened in porches....