3:00 snapshot, #164.

[urbpan]

Lovely rt 30, on the way back from Tufts wildlife clinic.

Best part of the day: Finding this on a lock flap (a piece of inner tube covering the cage padlock):



It's a cicada exuvia--the last exoskeleton of the nymph, left behind as the adult emerges. Normally the cicada then ascends high into a tree to begin its life of making a really loud noise. I looked around and found it on the ground.



I picked it up and moved it to a nearby tree.

Comments

[macabre-grrl.livejournal.com]

It suddenly occurred to me that bugs must have several birthdays instead of one a year like other animals that don't morph so drastically.

[nutmeg.livejournal.com]

maybe its exoskeleton was still gettin' its tan on

[bunrab.livejournal.com]

Back in Austin, the cicadas were so loud that they could actually interfere somewhat with a 90-piece concert band playing Sousa in the park.