What is the ticking/clicking & buzzing sound in the hill by my house?

Question

Around dusk there is an incredibly loud buzzing and ticking or clicking sound. My boyfriend says its rattlesnakes. I think it must be some kind of bird or beetle. Anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

I do believe they are cicadas...an insect.   I lived in vegas and I know exactly that sound you are describing. after a few weeks when the noises subsided, I looked around the trees and plants where the noise had been coming from and found dozens of exoskeletons.

search CICADA on wikipedia...there is a descreption of the the cicada"music" and a sound bite of the noise....might help you identify what you are hearing

Answer 2

there is a beetle that makes the same sort of rattling sound as a snake, not sure what its called tho