Molting and size change

[cdsnuts]

It always amazes me how much bigger these guys are after they molt. I don't understand how they can fit all of that size into their existing skin. I mean I know that's why they molt, but the size change is just unbelievable.

Does anyone know they science as to how they can come out of their old skin almost twice as big as they were??

It just blows my mind.

 

[lancaster1313]

Haha! I don't know the science, but they seem to come out like a gel, then it sets. I'm very glad I don't have to do that to grow! One wrong move and you're screwed. ;-)

 

[Ranitomeya]

They expand themselves by swelling their soft, new exoskeleton with air after molting.
I've fed a freshly molted roach to a mantid and heard the pop and watched it shrink a bit from the release of pressure.

 

[lancaster1313]

They expand themselves by swelling their soft, new exoskeleton with air after molting.

I've fed a freshly molted roach to a mantid and heard the pop and watched it shrink a bit from the release of pressure.

That too. I used to think that a mantis was going to be as big as they look while they hang there all full of air. Then they shrink a bit. At least the abdomen does. lol

 

[ScienceGirl]

After molting, insects fill themselves up with air. Mainly the abdomen is filled with air, but sometimes part of the thorax, too. Some insects may fill themselves completely up with air, but I haven't seen or read about that yet... Just don't want to rule out what may be possible... :/ Filling up with air is what cockroaches, mantids, crickets, and others do after molting. This can most easily be seen in newly molted cockroaches. They come out white and flat, fill themselves up with air, and then are astoundingly round. Some air exits as the exoskeleton hardens, and they are left smaller than they were when puffed full of air, though larger than they were before they molted.

 

[cdsnuts]

So cool...

 

[wuwu]

i've always wondered how they could hang their whole body weigh by just the tip of their abdomen after they molt to dry themselves off.

 

[ScienceGirl]

i've always wondered how they could hang their whole body weigh by just the tip of their abdomen after they molt to dry themselves off.

They aren't holding themselves up as much as dangling while still exiting their exoskeleton. Afterwards, they'll grip a nearby surface.

You can see this in Precarious333's wonderful mantis videos on YouTube.

In this video, you can see the abdomen beginning to exit from the exoskeleton at 2:18. Filling up with air also allows the old exoskeleton to rip and slip off. Notice the air-filled abdomen at this point. During the previous parts of the video, the abdomen wasn't as full.

http://youtu.be/ccd_1Vs1Ajk