21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
A molting Cicada latching on to an old roof board.

This image shows a Cicada , in the Santa Cruz Mountains, mid way through its molting process in early summer. With this being a once yearly ritual, I was pleased to find one during this process. From this stage, it took two minutes until it was complete and free to continue on with life.

Photo Detail
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Ben Lomond, California, United States of America
Copyright: © Isaac Moyer