Offspring is an inexact copy of adult

One of the most fundamental ways of growing is characteristic of such different animal groups as mammals and ticks, but also of many other creatures. In these species, the babies are by and large exact copies of the adults, only much smaller. As they grow, no dramatic changes take place – only the offspring will gradually look more and more like adults. In cicadas, the “youth stage” – the nymph – is much longer than the adult life. Up to 17 years in connection with some species.

The cicada egg is laid on a tree branch, and on hatching, the nymph drops to the ground and starts digging. For the next few years, the nymph will go through several stages - called instars- where it gets steadily bigger.

But while the head and body of the nymph look like an adult cicada, the nymph has no wings, and two huge digging claws. So it's neither a caterpillar-like larva, or an exact miniature of an adult.

Eventually, the final instar emerges from the ground and splits along its back. The adult cicada emerges, minus the claws but plus fullygrown wings.

A cicada is fully grown and leaves its exuviae. It simply crawls out of its old exoskeleton, which has become too small.