one MOTHER of a housefly??

When shown the specimen in the photo below, my first reaction was, " What is THAT?!?!  It looks like  one MOTHER of a housefly!!!"

I was interested to know what this curiously large insect was and began to wonder if it could, by any chance, be a cicada.  I had only ever HEARD cicadas on a warm summer's day but had never SEEN one.  So,  I did what any 'connected' city-dwelling girl would do......I started to search online for the answer.. 

I would conclude that this IS a cicada.........if I'm wrong, please let me know!