科學圖說

阿里山紋翅暮蟬-羽化(Cicada Transformation)

臺灣特有種「阿里山紋翅暮蟬」，半翅目蟬科暮蟬屬，分布於阿里山海拔約2000-2500公尺山地，喜棲息於鬱閉度較高人造柳杉林。午間來到林間，聆聽著蟬鳴鳥叫，享受「蟬噪林逾靜，鳥鳴山更幽」的情懷。午後天際傳來陣陣悶雷，雷陣雨是否會阻擾牠們的羽化過程？所幸，雷雨來的快、去也快，夕陽西下烏雲散，天際間露出些許暖陽，順利觀察到羽化過程。從尋找適合羽化地點、抓緊枝條、破殼、探頭、出殼、到伸展晾翅，璀璨的生命蛻變就此完成。持續於山林大鳴大放，不斷繁衍。

Tanna infuscate is a cicada endemic to Taiwan. It belongs to the order Hemiptera, family Cicadidae and genus Tanna. It is found in the mountains of Alishan at elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 meters in Japanese cedar plantation forests with high crown density. In the afternoon, when the cicadas are buzzing and the birds are calling, I enjoyed a moment that can best be expressed as: “The buzzing cicada make the forest even quieter and the calling birds make the mountains more secluded.” In the afternoon, thunder appeared. I was worried it would interrupt this cicada’s emergence. Fortunately, the storm passed quickly and I was able to observe the molting process. Following its dramatic transformation into an adult, this cicada is ready to continue the reproductive cycle.