Magicicada
Posted by Pastor Ron
Sunday, January 08, 2012 8:00:00 AM
While most Cicada species have some adults emerging from the ground each year the North American Magicicada are on either a 13 year or 17 year life cycle and the whole brood emerges at the same time!
Cicada nymphs live underground until the time is right and then emerge to molt, mate, lay eggs and die. And then the cycle repeats. What is left behind is a bunch of empty cicada shells clinging to trees. The picture above is an empty shell.
The Cicada's life cycle is spiritually symbolic in some cultures. The shedding of its skin is also an illustration of a tactic used to escape an enemy. 金蝉脱壳
I see a spiritual illustration here as well ~ though the time frame and cyclical nature are completely different.