It is September 1st, and summer is coming to an end. I sometimes see a cicada（セミ） playing dead（死んだふりをしている） at my front door. It's lying upside down as if it's dead. But when I get close to it, it suddenly flies off. These days, it's apparently called a "cicada bomb" or a "semi-final." From what I've heard, the cicada is on the verge of death but is mustering（奮い起こす） its remaining strength.
It doesn't bother me, but it startles my wife and kids. So, here's how to tell a dead cicada from one that is just playing dead. The key is in its legs. If its legs are tucked in, it's really dead, so it won't be flying away anymore. But if its legs are spread open, it's still alive and could fly off. This is because insects' muscles contract（拘縮する） after death, which causes their legs to curl inward.
