**7. Opening of the turret, exit and moulting**

From the end of July begins the period of moults. The nymphs emerge from their turret after having opened it at the top, moult into a winged imago, on their own turret (**Figure 14a, b**) or on neighbouring vegetation (**Figure 14c**), then fly away for a brief adult life, during which males and females will mate.

We have identified three opening modes (Béguin, Gama and Ribamar Mesquita Ferreira, to be published), *each accomplished using the hook-shaped end of the forelegs*. It is therefore important to note that the opening behaviours of the top of the turret before moulting are totally distinct from those described above for the temporary opening of the top during intense rainfalls, and which are practiced by liquefaction of the top with soaked clay, without ever involving the front legs. *For the opening* 

#### **Figure 14.**

*(a) Exuvia attesting for the moulting of a nymph on its own building (photos Vanessa Gama). The white line represents the trip of the nymph between the opening at the top of the turret and the place where the moult took place. Note the rotation made by the nymph at the bottom of its turret. (b) imago from another nymph drying its wings after moulting on its own building. (c) Migration of a nymph from its turret to the branch where it has moulted.* o*: Opened turret.*

**99**

**Figure 16.**

*The Nymph Architect of the Cicada* Guyalna chlorogena*: Behaviours and Ecosystem*

*Four stages of opening a turret. (a) Beginning of the draft work (6:21 a.m.). (b) draft in progress (9:58 a.m.). (c) Draft completed (10:43 a.m.). (d) Equalisation of the border completed (11:35 a.m.). Observation on* 

*(a) 6:59 a.m.: Opening resulting from the enlargement of a small perforation, such as that shown on Figure 15a. (b) 7:03 a.m.: Continuation of the enlargement; the nymph is discernible. (c) 8:44 a.m.: The enlargement is finished; the nymph appears, on can distinguish its eyes (ey) and its clypeus (cly).* 

*The nymph leaves its building. Observation on 01.09.2019.*

*(d) 9:38 a.m.: The nymph, gripped at the opening, is equalising the edge by scratching with the hook-shaped end of its forelegs (fl); one distinguishes also an antenna (ant) and the clypeus (cly). (e) 10:05 a.m.: The equalisation of the edge is complete, the opening is perfectly circular and the nymph withdrew. (f) 6:08 p.m.:* 

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94106*

**Figure 15.**

*19.08.2019.*

*The Nymph Architect of the Cicada* Guyalna chlorogena*: Behaviours and Ecosystem DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94106*

#### **Figure 15.**

*Ecosystem and Biodiversity of Amazonia*

**7. Opening of the turret, exit and moulting**

be observed, as a consequence of the liquefaction of the clay from the top wall by applying these parts covered with clay wet with urine. After the rain has stopped,

From the end of July begins the period of moults. The nymphs emerge from their turret after having opened it at the top, moult into a winged imago, on their own turret (**Figure 14a, b**) or on neighbouring vegetation (**Figure 14c**), then fly

We have identified three opening modes (Béguin, Gama and Ribamar Mesquita Ferreira, to be published), *each accomplished using the hook-shaped end of the forelegs*. It is therefore important to note that the opening behaviours of the top of the turret before moulting are totally distinct from those described above for the temporary opening of the top during intense rainfalls, and which are practiced by liquefaction of the top with soaked clay, without ever involving the front legs. *For the opening* 

away for a brief adult life, during which males and females will mate.

When rainfalls are heavy, the soil becomes very wet and the moisture level in the burrow increases dramatically. In addition, rainwater in some places passes through a rapidly decomposing litter [3]. We can therefore imagine that the level of CO2 also increases. The temporary opening of the turret would therefore lower these rates, as well as the concomitant increase in pressure. *The turret would thus appear as a regulating device of the physical–chemical conditions prevailing inside the burrow*.

the nymph closes these openings by injecting moist clay (**Figure 12c**–**f**).

**98**

**Figure 14.**

*has moulted.* o*: Opened turret.*

*(a) Exuvia attesting for the moulting of a nymph on its own building (photos Vanessa Gama). The white line represents the trip of the nymph between the opening at the top of the turret and the place where the moult took place. Note the rotation made by the nymph at the bottom of its turret. (b) imago from another nymph drying its wings after moulting on its own building. (c) Migration of a nymph from its turret to the branch where it* 

*Four stages of opening a turret. (a) Beginning of the draft work (6:21 a.m.). (b) draft in progress (9:58 a.m.). (c) Draft completed (10:43 a.m.). (d) Equalisation of the border completed (11:35 a.m.). Observation on 19.08.2019.*

#### **Figure 16.**

*(a) 6:59 a.m.: Opening resulting from the enlargement of a small perforation, such as that shown on Figure 15a. (b) 7:03 a.m.: Continuation of the enlargement; the nymph is discernible. (c) 8:44 a.m.: The enlargement is finished; the nymph appears, on can distinguish its eyes (ey) and its clypeus (cly). (d) 9:38 a.m.: The nymph, gripped at the opening, is equalising the edge by scratching with the hook-shaped end of its forelegs (fl); one distinguishes also an antenna (ant) and the clypeus (cly). (e) 10:05 a.m.: The equalisation of the edge is complete, the opening is perfectly circular and the nymph withdrew. (f) 6:08 p.m.: The nymph leaves its building. Observation on 01.09.2019.*

#### **Figure 17.**

*Six snapshots illustrating the nymph's rotations when equalising the edge of the opening with its forelegs. (a) 9:15 a.m. (b) 9:35 a.m. (c) 9:37 a.m. (d) 9:38 a.m. (e) 9:41 a.m. (f) 9:45 a.m.. Arrows represent the rotations from the previous snapshot;* ant*: Antenna,* fl*: Foreleg,* cly*: Clypeus. Observation on 01.09.2019.*


#### **Table 1.**

*Work schedule of the nymph during its moult to imago.*
