Well, sometimes the sound outside is almost deafening - we are having the emergence of both the 13 and the 17 year cicadids (sp). We don't have too terribly many in our yard, but other yards are almost covered. Hubby thinks its because we don't have trees that they are fond of. Neighbor children were running around collecting them into a gallon bucket and had it full. Not very lovely creatures. On the plus side, we have LOTS of cherries on our sweet cherry tree and the birds aren't fighting us for them this year - guess they are having their fill of the cicadis. Barb Barb Rothenberger Columbia, Mo. See our pictures of the Philadelphia flower show http://www.geocities.com/PicketFence/3257/