This female Magicicada septendecim Nymph was found in Wildwood State Park making its way up a tree trunk to emerge. Below are a series of photos of the nymphs emergence.Thanks goes to Elias Bonaros for his good eye in finding this one nymph in a forest full of trees and bushes!
The nymph secures itself to the leave to ready itself to emerge from its exoskeleton.
The back of the nymphs exoskeleton splits open to start the process of emergence.
The nymph hangs upside down for a short period of time so that its legs can harden so it can support its body weight.
While hanging upside down the nymphs wings begin to inflate.
When the nymphs legs harden enough it does a sit-up and grabs onto its exoskeleton.
It then pulls out the bottom part of its body.
It continues to hang from its exoskeleton to inflate its wings.
After the wings are fully inflated the nymph brings them in closer to its body.
As the nymphs exoskeleton hardens if becomes darker.
The next day the nymphs exoskeleton is fully hardened and her adult colors have developed.
Brood V Magicicada are due to emerge on Long Island after 17 years underground. The last time they were seen was in 1999. The main brood covers Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia with a small disjunct population of Brood V emerging on Long Island. I am happy to report that Brood V Long Island has emerged with exuvia, nymphs and chorusing noted. The Magicicada septendecim has been emerging and calling this week on Long Island and efforts are underway to record their locations. If anyone observes any emergences of Brood V during June we would like to hear from you with an address or nearest cross streets. Contact info on the bottom of this Blog post.
What To Look For
Adult Magicicada septendecim on shed exuvia
Magicicada septendecim nymph female climbing tree to emerge
Please contact me at graphicartist04@gmail.com with location information for any Brood V cicada observations on Long Island or post below this Blog post. Thank You!
The Neocicada hieroglyphica has an excellent camouflage. Although you can hear it, it is extremely hard to find among the many pines and oaks. This photo is an example of just how hard it is to see the NH in a pine. If you are lucky to find it in an Oak tree you have a better chance of seeing it against the bark.
Magicicada Septendecim 17 Year Cicada Nymph Emergence
June 1, 2013
Emergence sequence of the Magicicada septendecim
When the nymph is ready to emerge it grabs securely onto a branch and freezes.
The nymph shell splits around the top of the thorax
It slowly works its head out first.
Once the head is out it leans backwards so it can pull out its legs.
It slowly works its legs out of the shell. This is a delicate process because sometimes extremities could get stuck in the shell and the nymph will be stuck or one of the legs could get broken off.
The nymph will hang upside down for a while to allow the top half of its body and legs to harden.
Its legs must harden and be strong enough to support the weight of its newly emerged body from its shell.
When its legs have hardened and are strong enough to support its weight it will bend and reach upward to grab the branch or exuvia and pulls out the rest of its body and hang for a while to allow its body to harden and wings to expand.
The Cicada expands its wings by pumping hymolymph (cicada blood) into its wings to expand them.
Over several hours the cicada will expand its wings and allow its exoskeleton to harden. Cicada are very vulnerable to injury or becoming prey during this time. If the cicada's body is injured in any way where the hemolymph bleeds out, this is a death sentence for the cicada.
The cicada will hold its wings flat while they are expanding.
Once the nymphs wings have fully expanded they will pull them in to the sides of their body and allow them to fully harden. It must wait for its wings to fully harden before it can fly. The nymphs are also very light in color and it will slowly acquire its adult colors as the exoskeleton hardens overnight.
After the M. septendecim fully emerged from its exuvia I allowed it to rest overnight so its adult color could develop.
The Magicicada septendecim's body turns black and the eyes are a striking red color.
It is amazing to know that this is a 17 year old insect!
