creepy insect husk pictures

[elanya]

I was waiting for the bus the other day, and I saw this creepy giant bug perched on the bus shelter frame. It kind of looked like a big wingless bee, so of course I was intrigued.... except it didn't seem to be doing anything. Further investigation revealed that it was just a shell. Was it some kind of larvae? Eater from the inside out by a spider? Who can say! It was firmly grabbing on to the post, even in death, in impressive defiance of gravity. I poked it but it stayed stuck there. It is gone now - I wonder what happened to it?

ETA: It is a cicada shell (thanks aghrivaine!)




A bit of a perspective shot. the thing was probably about three or four inches long (6-8 cm?)


Here you can see where it is split open along the back, and hollowed out inside


One from the other side - check the spiderwebs


And one looking down from above, for extreme creepy!