Exoskeleton of cicada (蟬)

This is not a real insect body. It is just the outer coating (cuticle), or exoskeleton, of cicada. During its life cycle, the insect sheds off its rigid " armour " (during " moulting " ) and escapes through a longitudinal slit on the dorsal (背面) side. (See the bottom photo.)  [Larger pixel size picture]

金 蟬 蛻 殼

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