Exuvia

An exuvia (plural exuviae) is the cast-off outer skin of an arthropod after a moult. In some species the exuvia is eaten soon after the moult although in other species it is left. For example, the exuviae of cicadas can often been seen on the surface of trees. In summer, it's often possible to see exuvia of dragonflies on plant stems near the water's edge.

Other names for (or types of) Exuvia include:

• Moulted skin

Related terms

• Cuticle
• Ecdysis
• Eclosion
• Exoskeleton
• Integument
• Metamorphosis
• Pharate
• Pupa
• Teneral

Related groups of terms

• Insect life cycles

Related pages on this web site

• Insect life cycles

See other words beginning with E