Not A Reptile

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Not A Reptile

Postby rolandslf » Tue Feb 23, 2016 1:50 pm

Can someone please identify this creature / insect for me.
I saw it on a tree trunk.
Many Thanks

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Re: Not A Reptile

Postby Westley Price » Tue Feb 23, 2016 2:06 pm

Looks like the skin of a dragonfly larva type thing, but certainly looks like an aquatic larva's skin.
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Re: Not A Reptile

Postby GCol » Tue Feb 23, 2016 2:11 pm

I would say more likely a Cicada, I am no entomologist though.
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Re: Not A Reptile

Postby Westley Price » Tue Feb 23, 2016 2:12 pm

Actually, I think you're right GCol.
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Re: Not A Reptile

Postby Mehelya » Tue Feb 23, 2016 2:19 pm

Definitely Cicada species.
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Re: Not A Reptile

Postby Jedi Biscuit » Tue Feb 23, 2016 3:20 pm

I have no Idea what they are really called, I used to call them Christmas Beetles because they only use to come out and sing around December time when I was a kid.
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Re: Not A Reptile

Postby rolandslf » Wed Feb 24, 2016 12:08 pm

That seems to be a bad set of pincers on the front.
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Re: Not A Reptile

Postby Mehelya » Wed Feb 24, 2016 12:40 pm

Roland, those pincers are used during the nymph stage of their life cycle underground. They spend years (2 - 17, species dependent) underground, before coming up, and changing into their adult forms.

This website has some detailed info on them for you : http://www.cicadamania.com/
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Re: Not A Reptile

Postby rolandslf » Thu Feb 25, 2016 8:01 am

Thanks for the info, and the link B.
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