Cicadas

I've been bother by the exceptionally loud bugs of late and finally thought to search and I saw a cicada shell.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/brood-awakening-17-year-cicadas-emerge-4-years-early/

Every 17 years is more than enough for me, thank you. No need to come out early.

There have been few cicadas this year, although there are always a few.  There have been, however, lots of higher-pitched crickets and katydids that we can hear during the day this year because, well, not many cicadas. 

I think you are probably hearing the crickets.

I love the sounds of cicadas!

Sounds of summer

I don't think you're hearing 17 year ones that are coming out early, there are many different types of cicadas, 17 year ones, 13 year ones, and then the ones we see every summer.  I'd say that I hear them way less than we used to, and so far this year I've only found two empty shells, and haven't seen a single cicada killer wasp.  And sadly this year I only heard their chorus once or twice, late July and early August were depressingly quiet.  We also seemed to have nowhere near the number of fireflies that we usually have.

But yes, the katydids were as loud as always.