Exoskeleton of a cicada

6954.         We found this outside in our backyard on one of our kayaks and can’t figure out what it is. We have not went out in our kayaks at all lately so we couldn’t have picked it up somehow while out on the water so we have no clue how it got here and what it is. London, Ontario. Canada

Number 6954. This is the empty ‘shell’ (exoskeleton) of a cicada (Hemiptera/ Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadidae), likely in the genus Neotibicen (annual/dog-day cicadas). Click here for a video of the molting process.