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Cicadas develop underground feeding on liquid from plant roots and growing slowly for many years. When ready to leave their nymph life behind, they crawl out of the ground and look for a safe spot to transform into adults. They usually pick the rough bark of a tree or a sturdy plant. Here, they use their claws to grab on tightly, hooking claws into the plant as well as possible. This step is important because they need to be very stable for what comes next.
The Molt: Breaking Free
Once anchored, cicadas start the molting process. They split their old, tight skin along the back and slowly wriggle out. The process is one of the most dangerous things they do. Molting can take hours and their new exoskeleton is soft and vulnerable until crosslinking chemistry is able to help it harden and dry. During this time, they’re easy targets for any predator looking for a meal, and they are extremely vulnerable to injury bumps and falls.
Wing Inflation
With their old skin left behind, it’s time for the cicadas to "grow" their wings (in reality, they've already grown, but need to be inflated).
After molting, the new wings are small and wrinkly. Cicadas pump a special fluid into them, which stretches and unfolds the wings until they're full-sized. This fluid, called hemolymph, works a bit like air inflating a balloon, pushing out into the wings through tiny veins. The wings then dry and harden, preparing the cicada for flight and the new mission in life: Find a little love, make some babies.
