Cicada Exoskeleton (Molt)

Natural Habitat

This is an exoskeleton left behind by a cicada, which lives primarily underground as nymphs and emerges to trees and other vegetation as adults.

Diet & Feeding

Cicadas are herbivorous. As nymphs, they feed on xylem fluid from tree roots. As adults, they may feed on xylem fluid from tree branches, but their primary purpose is reproduction.

Behavior Patterns

Cicadas undergo an incomplete metamorphosis. Nymphs live underground for years (periods can range from 2 to 17 years depending on the species). When mature, they emerge from the ground, climb onto vertical surfaces (like trees, walls, or even objects), and molt into their adult form, leaving behind this empty shell (exoskeleton). Adults live for only a few weeks, focusing on mating.

Risks & Benefits

Cicadas pose no significant risk to humans. They do not bite or sting. Large swarms of emerging cicadas can cause some cosmetic damage to young tree branches due to egg-laying, but mature trees are rarely harmed. They are beneficial to the ecosystem as a food source for many animals and their tunneling as nymphs can aerate the soil.

Identified on: 9/10/2025