nymph or exoskeleton of a nymph of a cicada

5808   What kind of bug is this please?   This was taken in Toronto this morning. (Sept. 29) Roland.

This is either a nymph or exoskeleton of a nymph of a cicada (Hemiptera/ Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadidae), likely that of one of the so-called ‘dog-day’ cicadas in the genus Neotibicen. The nymphs of these insects spend one to several years underground, feeding on the sap from tree roots. When they complete their nymphal development, they tunnel to the surface where they climb some handy nearby object, rest a bit, and then the exoskeleton splits, and the adult cicada emerges – see http://tinyurl.com/gvjaw87 for a short video clip. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.