Behaviors: Cicada Molting (Eclosing) Process

"Tibicen Cicada Molt Process - A Long and Stressful Process."

As previously stated. The Cicada molt process is a long and lengthy one. Below is a detailed account of a Tibicen lyricen molt from start to finish. This was the first nymph I discovered for the 2004 season so I was keen on noticing every single detail.

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10:45pm

Tibicen lyricen Back Splits. Click to Enlarge.

10:09pm

Tibicen lyricen Split gets wider. Click to Enlarge.

11:14pm

Tibicen lyricen Cicada Split Grows Wider. Click to Enlarge.

11:19pm

Tibicen lyricen Head is free. Click to Enlarge.

11:24pm

10:45pm - After some initial movement to find the perfect spot, the nymph has finally settled down. I could hear "scratching" sounds as the Cicada flexed it's little legs in order to get a firm grip on the branch.
11:09pm - A split appears starting between the compound eyes to the end of the thorax.
11:14pm - The split grows wider.
11:19pm - The split grows even wider, the cicada teneral struggles to remove it's head from the exuvium.
11:24pm - The head is finally free. I noticed that the Cicada teneral is trying to wriggle free by rapidly "vibrating" it's upper half.

11:30pm

11:37pm

Tibicen lyricen still up-side-down. Click to Enlarge.

11:50pm

11:52pm

11:56pm

11:30pm - After more vibrations, the wing buds are free. The front forelegs were free'd immediately after I snapped this picture. The Cicada teneral hangs up-side-down. It's moving it's forelegs slightly. I notice 2 "string-like" structures. I need to figure out what the heck those are for. I wonder if hanging in this position helps blood to flow with the use of gravity? I'm not quite sure if it can see immediately with those big compound eyes.
11:37pm - Still up-side-down. Seems to be a female. It's still doing the vibrating body thing while up-side-down.
11:50pm - Still up-side-down.
11:52pm - The cicada teneral does what amounts to a "sit up" and grasps the exuvium with it's front forelegs and pulls its abdomen out. It hangs onto it's exuvium with it's fore and mid legs. It flexes it's wing buds to perhaps get blood flowing through the green wing veins. It's moving it's wings a lot.
11:56pm - The wings are starting to look more like wings now. I notice that the lower sternites and tergites of this female seem to be swollen. I wonder if these are her sex organs?

12:09am

12:14am

12:20am

12:25am

12:09am - The wings are still growing.
12:14am - When the wings fully expand, they start out parallel to the body.
12:14am - Another view of the wings parallel to the body. The cicada teneral is hanging onto it's exuvium with just the front forelegs. Sex organs are clearly visible. Wings are pulsating slightly. Can make out ovipositor.
12:20am - The wings eventually fold in forming a "roof-like" structure over the Cicada's abdomen. Can make out four wings total, two on each side. After an additional hour the wings and cicada will harden. The wing veins will turn blackish brown.
12:25am - The Cicada teneral profile is shaped like a "bullet" with wings. Extremely aerodynamic but are noted to be real clumsy fliers.

"Cicada Molt Process - Why Does it Take so Long?"

Believe it or not there is a method to all the madness when Cicadas molt. I have a theory on why it takes so long for a Cicada to complete it's molt process.

You see, a Cicada, like all insects do not have a closed circulatory system like you and me. Their circulatory system is open, which means that blood flows freely around the body saturating the organs while supplying them with nutrients. This free flowing of blood helps the Cicada to harden. Which is why over time, the Cicada get's darker and darker in color. However, not much blood flows to a Cicada's legs as they remain mostly hollow. This is why a Cicada stays so long in its upsidedown position. Since their legs start out soft, if they try to use them to support their weight too early that would probably be disasterous.

"The Soft and Chewy Cicada Teneral Stage, Yumm!!"

The teneral stage is that stage in a Cicada's development where the Cicada has just finished carrying out it's molting process but it is still relatively soft. Like the consistancy of a newly molted soft-shelled crab. Hey, they are arthropods after all. It is mainly pinkish in color with either light blue or light green colored wing veins. It's at this stage where the Cicada is most vulnerable. Typically not much happens during this stage because most of its efforts are focused on hardening to its darker more earth-like colors.

Usually the Cicada teneral will not leave the vicinity of it's discarded nymph shell (exuvium) but it has been noted on some occasions that the Cicada will often move a fair distance away from it's nymph shell to find a more secluded spot to harden. The wings are very fragile at this stage, should they brush up against something or be touched by human hands, irreparable damage can be done to the wings.

But, its during this stage that you can actually eat Cicada Tenerals. That's right, if you like lobsters or other shell-fish then Cicada Tenerals may be just what you are seeking. Don't make that face! After all it's all protein right? Do a search on Google for "cicada teneral recipes", and you'll see what I mean.

"Cicada Pee - When you Gotta Go, You Gotta Go!"

I have noticed on several occasions that a Cicada teneral will sometimes urinate after the molt process. Why the Cicada does this is unclear. Perhaps it has something to do with their long development below ground where a Cicada nymph feeds on the Xylem of their host plant and expells this in the form of a waste product once they have emerged from the ground. Click the thumbnail to the left for a closer look.