depscribe's photos with the keyword: 17-year cicadas

The shell is left behind

Ready to fly, mate, and die

They're harmless, and kind of cute

But the vast majority make it all the way

Soon, they're dragging away the pieces

More ants join the party

But carpenter ants interrupt the process for some

The inflation continues

They develop color within the first hour or so

Still inflating

Some begin to crawl away from their shells

Their wings start to extend

It is a tight squeeze, but they're soft

They split their shells down the back

They then climb the trunk of the nearest tree

The nymphs dig themselves out of the ground