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Project Noah Nature School
Magicicada sp.
The "magical" creatures known as Brood II cicadas emerge from the ground every 17 years or so. Their impetus for emerging is a precise 64 degrees fahrenheit soil temperature. They molt, mate, and die quickly after laying eggs. Periodical cicadas have the longest developmental period of any known insect.
Periodical cicadas are found only in Eastern North America.
I was fascinated by the cicada's display of molting. I watched as it took less than an hour for its metamorphosis. There were hundreds of adults in the grass and trees lining this street. There are 3 possibilities for the species, so I'll be intrigued if someone can ID this fellow for me.
Spotted on May 19, 2013
Submitted on May 23, 2013
6 Comments
Thanks, vanvliet15!
LaurenZarate, since you asked, check out my spotting of the Magicicada with a hardened shell: https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/24...
Thank you, RobinsonMike and KeithRoragen!
Thank you, LaurenZarate as well. The darkened ones look quite different, but still have red eyes. I will post an additional spotting or two of the cicadas just before they molted. They look like a cross between cockroach and a bee.
Nice series.
Wonderful series Mauna, what does a darkened one look like?
great photo.., i love this..