Cicada Emerges From Its Exoskeleton After 7 Years: SNAPPED IN THE WILD

Photographer Brad Leue captured a time-lapse video of a cicada shedding its exoskeleton in Western Australia. The process took nearly two hours and involved around 3,500 photos. The cicada, Cyclochila australasiae, known as the green grocer, spends seven years underground before emerging to shed its skin. As the wet season approaches, cicadas fill the air with their song, and their exoskeletons are found everywhere. After shedding, the cicada's wings expand and dry, allowing it to fly. It lives for six more weeks to mate and produce the next generation, which will remain underground for another seven years.

What is the name of the cicada species filmed by Brad Leue?

How long does the cicada live underground before emerging?

Describe the environment in Australia during the lead-up to the wet season as it relates to cicadas.

What happens to the cicada's wings after it emerges from its exoskeleton?

What is the primary purpose of the cicada's short life after emerging from its exoskeleton?