CLOSED: What is this?

Any ideas? They are in several of my beds.

Hi stormyla - that's a leftover shell from a Cicada nymph that has molted into adulthood. It's probably now flying around your trees and making all the noise you hear when it's hot out.




http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/showimage/970/

http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bbugorder%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=tibicen&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&Search=Search

Thanks, Claypa. I've had these for several years in one bed, but now they seem to be in several beds.

As far as I know, the only damage they might do is laying eggs in tree branches. Mature trees wouldn't have a problem with them, but young ones can be damaged, especially when the seventeen-year cicadas are out.

hey. this is cool. they are people out there enjoy eating them!! This insect will not even sting or bite human, thus this is not considered as pest.

They aren't really pests, just extremely loud. If I were to call you and step outside, you'd hear them loudly buzzing in the trees, more loud and persistent than crickets.

We used to collect the shedded skins when we were kids, usually found them clinging to the lower parts trees, as they come from the ground. I found this one this year in my garden, clinging to my mulch while it climbed out.

The evening before I found the "skin" in the last post, I found this cicada flopping around near my garden. I'm pretty sure it had just come out and that's why I was able to get a picture of it. They say that right after they come out, their wings have to dry, so they're very vulnerable and can't fly away. Shortly after I took the pictures, though, it flew away.

Here's what it looks like from the side. Yuck, though, about eating them. No bug dinner for me!

I have so many of these nymph sheddings in my yard. They seem to be heavier this year for some reason. I have also found them crawling around trying to find a place to 'shed'. Unfortunately, sometimes they get stepped on or the dog gets them, since they frequently crawl around and then hatch on my back patio. They also seem to get to stuck on their back quite a bit. They are definitely friendly and will be much obliged to crawl on your finger, so that you can carry them to a safer place. Although, they do have a little spike that comes down from their mid-section, (for the purpose of laying eggs), that can prick a bit. It hasn't happened to me personally, but to my daughter.

I do know that some of the birds like to eat them. My friend and I witnessed a female cardinal catch one the other day that was hiding behind my tomato plants. She and her mate flew off to share it, lol! I didn't even know that cardinals ate them.

Indy_v - Hello neighbor!

it's the shell so to speak of a cicada. When they grow they shed the exoskeleton, this is how they grow.

I found this site while trying to show my son what happens during molting. I hope you can get htis site it's animated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Cicada_molting_animated-2.gif

ok someone tell me they tried the site and thought that was too cool!!!!!!!!!!!

omg, I've never seen anything like that! Thanks for sharing. It must be really hard to get out of that thing. This one makes it look so easy!

It's so gross you find you can't take your eyes away, like it's horrible but I must watch it!!!!!!!!!!

good gif.