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17-Year Cicadas: From Nymph to Adult

Following the Cicada Through its Molt Cycle

From Laura Klappenbach, About.com

In the early summer of 2007, a brood of cicada nymphs known as the 'Northern Illinois Brood' dug their way out of the ground. They climbed up the trunks of trees where they underwent a final molt to their mature form. This series of photographs taken by wildlife photographer Robert Visconti illustrates this remarkable process.

Images 1-12 of 12

Nymph Molt BeginsAdult Starts to EmergeHead Fully EmergedHead Emerged
Wings EmergeFull Body EmergesWings Begin to ExpandAdult Free of Nymph Exoskeleton
Wings ExpandedExoskeleton HardensCicadas at Various Stages of MoltAdult Transformation Complete
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