Cicada Emergence {InstaScience}
Every once in awhile you walk out the door and find something amazing. That was the case when Paige found this adult cicada emerging right on the frame of their front door!
Cicadas, like butterflies, undergo complete metamorphosis. The nymphs spend at least a year or two underground feeding on sap from tree roots. They emerge in July, find a safe place, and spend the next hour or so working their way out of the nymph shell.
The adult cicada, known as an imago, will live less than two weeks, spending most of that time mating.
Fun Fact – The shell that the cicada leaves behind, which is composed mainly of chitin, is often used as an ingredient in different Chinese medicine mixtures.
TEACHING SCIENCE AT HOME
Want to learn more about cicadas? Check out the following articles:
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