Brood X Cicadas

The 17-year “Brood X” cicadas started showing up this week. They aren’t flying around or making much noise yet, but it’s only a matter of time. Looking around the yard I can easily find some hanging out on low plants along with lots of cast-off shells.

Around dusk the nymphs come up out of the ground and climb whatever they can. When they reach a good spot they start molting. First they split the back, then pull their head, legs, and wings out, and then eventually they reach forward and grab something to pull out the rest. Then they wait around while their wings expand.

The molting process takes maybe 45 minutes and it’s hard to believe the entire cicada was wedged into that shell less than an hour before.

By the next day their wings are firmed up and their color has darkened.

Here’s another one molting, this time while hanging underneath a leaf: