Raising Cecropia Moths - 2nd Instar
The Cecropia's started shedding their skins yesterday and molting into their 2nd stage of growth called the 2nd instar. You can see the exuviae or shed skins in the first photo as what look like little black half caterpillars. Sometimes the shed skin is called a 'shuck' as well. The reason why they shed is because their skins do not grow with the larvae inside. The skin can expand, but not grow. So they shed the old skin exposing the new, larger skin beneath with can allow them to continue to grow.
