Emerging Cicada

I ventured out a few days ago in the hopes of finding a Cicada emerging from its nymphal case.  I was astonished to do just that! 

I found it when it was halfway out and watched the entire process of it pulling itself free and pumping its green blood into its wings to expand them.  It looked like an exhausting ordeal and the Cicada paused several times (I presume to rest).

I would like to think it is now up in the tree-tops singing its summery song!

Here are images of the sequence of events.  If you click on the first image, it will enlarge and the series will be presented as a strip at the bottom of the screen that you can then navigate through.

Cicadas

Well, since I devoted a post to the Walking Stick I thought I'd give Cicadas equal time. Granted I don't think they are quite as cute but they are interesting too.

The picture below was taken in Toronto and as far as I can tell it is Tibicen Pruinosa. If you enlarge this photograph you can see three tiny red eyes which lie between the two large eyes on each side of its head. Rather alien looking, eh?



This fine fellow was in Arizona and again my best determination is that it is Tibicen Dorsata.



And finally, this is the discarded skin of the Arizona species.

An interesting fact about Cicadas is that they live the major portion of their long lives in the nymph stage. And of course, we have all heard their incredibly loud whine on our hottest summer days.

You can watch an amazing video of one shedding its skin here.

Another cool bug!