The wonders of nature - cicada emerging
Aug 11, 2013 08:51:41 #
mdemoiselle
Loc: Madison, WI
Watched a cicada emerge from its shell on my back fence. It took about an hour, but well worth it. :)
About halfway out
Top view!
Almost out
Finished!
Aug 11, 2013 09:06:09 #
mdemoiselle wrote:
Watched a cicada emerge from its shell on my back fence. It took about an hour, but well worth it. :)
Great series. These transitions in nature are often overlooked by those in too much of a hurry to "stop & smell a few roses". Thank you for sharing your moments with Mother Nature. :-D
Aug 11, 2013 10:38:20 #
Nice pictures, As I'm not to familiar with insects, I find it very interesting and spectacular the fact you took pictures of the whole process of the Cicada. great job.
Aug 11, 2013 10:50:21 #
Interesting photos, well done. I bet you had a lot of patience and a great zoom/macro. I like specially the one where it emerges from the skin (photo 3). Great photo. I would rotate it to see it sliding up?
Aug 11, 2013 10:54:42 #
mdemoiselle wrote:
Watched a cicada emerge from its shell on my back fence. It took about an hour, but well worth it. :)
How fortunate you were to capture this awakening. Very neat! Jan
Aug 11, 2013 11:21:44 #
Down Home
Loc: Anywhere, Now, SE TEXAS
mdemoiselle wrote:
Watched a cicada emerge from its shell on my back fence. It took about an hour, but well worth it. :)
Very nice set. Interesting too. Brings to mind some questions, I know there is people that can explain it here too. The Cicada shell on the fence, is there how long before the process begins to shed the shell. Then, once the Cicada sheds the shell, it appears that in an instant it is ready to fly away again. Was this shedding/transformation for the benefit of becoming a larger Cicada ? Or, just to molt the old shell for some reason :?:
Aug 11, 2013 17:21:50 #
Insects and arachnids (spiders, ticks, daddy longlegs) are arthropods. Related to crabs and lobsters, their exoskeleton (not a shell) does not grow. When an arthropod has outgrown its current exoskeleton, the skeleton cracks open and the animal emerges with a new, soft exoskeleton (that's what soft-shelled crabs are, though again - the name isn't accurate as "shells" like with clams, oysters and snails, do actually grow). The soft exoskeleton hardens shortly - and if they haven't been eaten while in their vulnerable state, they are good to go :) I have seen tarantula spiders molt; they lie on their back and pull their bodies - and eight legs - carefully from the skeleton. Fascinating to say the least!
Good job, mdmoiselle! And welcome to UHH.
Good job, mdmoiselle! And welcome to UHH.
Aug 11, 2013 20:54:05 #
Down Home
Loc: Anywhere, Now, SE TEXAS
Linda From Maine wrote:
Insects and arachnids (spiders, ticks, daddy longl... (show quote)
:thumbup: :thumbup: Thank you for that Linda, I knew someone would know. I do know about crabs molting/shedding their shells, and I presumed the Cicada would be similar, but did not know for sure. Crabs are the same way, sluff, paper shell, soft shell, then hard shell. You can pick up the sluff, almost like jelly, paper shell and some soft shell, with your bare hands. Some soft shell are a little harder, not quite hard shell yet, and can put a nice pinch on you. Sure are good eating too. I came from Maryland, land of the Blue Claw Crab, Chesapeake Bay area. :)
Aug 12, 2013 13:12:34 #
mdemoiselle wrote:
Watched a cicada emerge from its shell on my back fence. It took about an hour, but well worth it. :)
Nice series. :thumbup: :thumbup:
Aug 12, 2013 14:36:47 #
Aug 12, 2013 15:35:11 #
Aug 12, 2013 15:44:27 #
Down Home wrote:
:thumbup: :thumbup: Thank you for that Linda, I k... (show quote)
When I transferred to DC (in the Navy) and had my first Maryland crabcake, I thought it was devine! (and this from a Mainiac!) Could never get myself to try the soft-shell crab though :)
Aug 12, 2013 16:32:05 #
Down Home
Loc: Anywhere, Now, SE TEXAS
Linda From Maine wrote:
When I transferred to DC (in the Navy) and had my first Maryland crabcake, I thought it was devine! (and this from a Mainiac!) Could never get myself to try the soft-shell crab though :)
:lol: :lol: Well, my grandmother lived on the river. I would go crabbing back in the grass where the molting was going on. I had 3 #3 washtubs in her row boat I would have them separated. I would reach down in the water and pick the crabs out, got bit many times, you get used to it, not bad. The sluff and soft shell were hers, unless there were too many for her to eat. Just peal the points of the shell up, clean out the devils meat. Add a little seasoned flour, throw them in the frying pan, fry both sides, butter up 2 slices of bread, put between them, start eating. Basically a slab of crab meat, shell, legs and all. :thumbup: :thumbup: I'm hungry now. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Aug 12, 2013 16:44:00 #
Aug 12, 2013 16:47:49 #
mdemoiselle wrote:
Watched a cicada emerge from its shell on my back fence. It took about an hour, but well worth it. :)
:oops: :oops: I just realized it wasn't you, mademoiselle, who thanked me for the molting/exoskeleton info. I wouldn't have gone on about MD crabs if I'd been paying attention. Didn't intend to steer your topic. Sorry :oops:
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