Moulting Process in Insects

What is Moulting ?
 The insect cuticle is hard and forms un-stretchable
exoskeleton
 As the integument can stretch only a little, it must be
shed and replaced from time to time to permit the
insects to increase their size during growth period.

Casting of the cuticle is known as

MOULTING.
 Moulting involves sequence of events
 Beginning with separation of old cuticle from
underlying epidermal cell (Apolysis)
 Ending with shedding of remnants of old cuticle
(Ecdysis)
Sequence of Events

1. Change in epidermis

 Epidermal cells show much activity.

 Repeated mitotic division of epidermal cells occur
resulting in
 increase in number and size of epidermis, which
becomes columnar in shape and remain closely packed
and their boundaries become indistinct
 Changes occur in epithelial cells, dermal glands and
oenocytes.
Sequence of Events
2. Separation of the old cuticle from the epidermis (Apolysis):

 As a result of change in cell

shape, a tension is generated at
the surface of the epidermal
cells resulting in separation of
cuticle from epidermis
 Due to separation of epidermis
from the cuticle, exuvial or
subcuticular space is created
between epidermis and cuticle
3. Digestion of old endocuticle

 Epidermal cells starts

producing their secretion i.e.
moulting fluid and cuticular
material into the sub-
cuticular space.
 The moulting fluid is
granular, gelatinous and
contains two enzymes viz.,
proteinase and chitinase
which dissolve the old cuticle
 At the time of secretion, these
enzymes are in inactive stage.
 Soon the oenocytes start
secreting the new cuticulin
3. Digestion of old endocuticle
 The secretion from oenocytes is
transferred to epidermal cells which in
turn transport it to the outside through
pore canals.
 After the secretion of cuticulin, the
enzymes (Proteinase and Chitinase)
become active.
 These enzymes digest 80 to 90 % of the
endocuticle.
 The absorbed endocuticle (through the
integument) is again utilized for the
formation of new cuticle.
 These enzymes do not digest the ecdysial
membrane, epicuticle, exocuticle or
muscles and nerve connections to the old
cuticle.
4. Wax Secretion
 Shortly before ecdysis, wax is secreted on new cuticle adjacent to the
cuticulin
 Soon after ecdysis, cement layer is produced by dermal glands over wax

5. Ecdysis
 When moulting fluid and the products of
digestion of moulting fluid are resorbed,
the old cuticle consists of epicuticle and
exocuticle and is quite separate from the
new cuticle.
 The old cuticle is split along the ecdysial
cleavage line as a result of muscular
activities of the insect inside.
 Having split the old cuticle, the insect
draws itself out.
 The old shed off cuticle is called
EXUVIAE.
 Cuticle Formation
1. Formation of epicuticle

 Production of the new cuticle begins with the secretion of outer

epicuticle first in patches ald later these patches unite to form a
continous layer over the whole body of the epidermis.

 The inner epicuticle is secreted when the outer epicuticle is completely

laid out

2. Formation of procuticle

 Production of the procuticle begins after inner epicuticle is laid down

3. Expansion of new cuticle

 Having escaped from old cuticle (immediately after ecdysis), the insect
expands the new cuticle, by swallowing air or water, before it hardens.

4. Hardening of cuticle
 Occurs soon afterwards when expansion of new cuticle is completed

 After shedding of old cuticle the new cuticle which is soft, milky white
coloured, becomes dark and hard through the process known as tanning
(or) sclerotization

 The process of hardening involves the development of cross links

between protein chains which is also known as sclerotization.

 Water soluble arthropodin is converted into insoluble protein sclerotin

which results in cuticle hardening

 Tanning involves the differentiation of procuticle into outer hard

exocuticle and inner soft endocuticle.
5. Post ecdysial cuticle deposition

 Laying down of endocuticle and wax secretion continues in the inter-

moult period.
Changes occurring in the integument during the moulting cycle