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The shed husk or molted exoskeleton of an emergent cicada (species unknown). Cicadas live underground as nymphs for most of their lives, at depths ranging from about 30 cm down to 2.5 m. The nymphs feed on root juice and have strong front legs for digging. In the final nymphal instar, they construct an exit tunnel to the surface and emerge. They then molt (shed their skins) on a nearby plant for the last time and emerge as adults. The abandoned exoskeleton remains, still clinging to the bark of trees. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada
Spotted on the trunk of a tree within a large partially wooded yard & garden, and adjacent to a very disturbed patch of remnant lowland forest. This is in the equatorial lowland tropics of northern New Guinea.
Spotted on Oct 13, 2013
Submitted on Jul 29, 2014
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