Tibicen Cicada (Shell)

Description:

This is the shed skin of a Tibicen Cicada. When an insect out grows it's old exoskeleton it sheds the skin as they grow bigger. Cicadas are big sort of bulky insects with large transparent glistening wings. These are known as Dog-Day cicadas and come out in the summer and you know when they are out because they make a maraca sounding buzzing sound that can be heard all around (sometimes it can drive you nearly mad) These insects also have a natural predator in the form of a huge wasp known as a cicada killer. They cicada lays it's eggs under ground and every seven years one generation emerges to breed and make eggs that will emerge the next seven years. They are a clumsy insect and don't fly gracefully at all. They also have two big black eyes and are a cute bug.

Habitat:

Wooded areas, residential area, towns.

Notes:

It was kind of a slow start on February I was outside trying to get spotting's for this site. Not having much luck I went to the front yard. I looked around the porch area and I found not only this shed skin but five individual skins. Were stuck all over the widow screens, the wooden window frames (seen here) and one on a plant hanger. It isn't summer it is curious how they got there. It may had been that they were shed right before winter and I just hadn't looked hard enough. hey but I found them and I am not complaining. Anything helps this ongoing census of natures treasures.