As you finish up the final leg from the Selang trail junction back down to the Kubah National Park Headquarters, it’s easy to slip into a quick walk. But keeping your flash ready and scanning vertical tree trunks along the path often turns up one of the most intriguing natural artifacts of the tropical rainforest: the empty shells left behind by emerging cicadas.
Clinging firmly to smooth bark was this perfectly intact cicada exuvia (Cicadoidea).
After spending years underground feeding on root sap, cicada nymphs crawl up forest tree trunks during the night to undergo their final metamorphosis into winged adults. What remains is an exoskeleton frozen in time.
Anatomy of an Emerging Shell
Getting up close with the macro lens reveals the intricate mechanics of ecdysis (molting):
- Dorsal Ecdysial Line: Looking down the center of the thorax reveals a clean, straight longitudinal split. The adult cicada inflates its body with fluid to crack open this precise seam, slowly backing out into the night air.
- Tracheal Thread Remnants: The most striking feature in these close-up frames is the fine, white, string-like structures hanging out of the thoracic split. These are the discarded linings of the nymph’s internal respiratory system (tracheae), which are shed right alongside the outer skin!
- Fossorial Forelegs: The front legs are heavily thickened and armed with strong spurs—specialized tools used by the nymph to dig its way through dense clay and root systems during its long subterranean life stage.
A Strong Finish to a Family Run
Finding an exuvia like this is always a fantastic teaching moment on a family hike, showing how much life cycle drama happens silently in the understory. Even on a day where wind kept adult insects flying high, main camera gear stayed home, and target species remained hidden, walking away with sharp, detailed macros of rainforest botany, fungal diversity, and exuviae proved that Kubah never fails to deliver.
Field Notes:
- Location: Kubah National Park (Selang to HQ return trail)
- Subject: Cicada Exuvia (Cicadoidea)
- Camera Setup: Canon EOS 60D (Backup run)
- Key Detail: Visible white tracheal linings trailing from the dorsal ecdysial split
