Cicadas are part of the summer symphony in Georgia. It’s common to find their exoskeleton shells on trees. An exoskeleton is an external covering that supports and protects the body of some invertebrate animals, especially arthropods.

In biology, the prefix (ex- or exo-) means outer, away from, or out of something, such as extinguish, external and exothermic. What other science words have this root?

Why do they leave their exoskeleton shells behind? Notice the slit down the back.

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What other animals have an exoskeleton? Click here for full screen viewing.

Incorporate this beautifully illustrated book when you learn about cicadas.