During insect molting, what occurs?

• A. They shed their exoskeletons
• B. They molt by absorbing water to increase size
• C. They molt by forming a new external shell but not shedding the old one
• D. They stop growing until metamorphosis

Answer: (A)

Growth in insects happens through molting, which means shedding the old exoskeleton so the animal can grow into a larger one. The exoskeleton is rigid and doesn’t stretch, so when it's time to grow, the insect splits the old cuticle and wriggles out of it. A new, larger exoskeleton forms beneath and then hardens after the body inflates a bit as fluids or air push into the new covering. This process is driven by hormones and can happen multiple times during the juvenile stages. Metamorphosis is a separate transformation, but growth continues through additional molts rather than stopping until metamorphosis. Absorbing water to grow or forming a new shell without shedding the old one don’t describe molting accurately.