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Photo#274195
Wood louse half molted - Porcellio scaber

Wood louse half molted - Porcellio scaber
Black Island, Washington, USA
May 9, 2009
Porcellio scaber?

Moved
Moved from Woodlice. Thanks Arp!

Porcellio scaber okay
Also note that this one did already slip out of it's skin - helping it to shed more would probably have killed it ;o)

Woodlice moult in two phases, hind part first, then a short time later the front half. This enables them, if need be - when disturbed, to continue movement on "half steam" by lifting the freshly moulted half, that is still soft and vulnerable, off the ground and walking on the unmoulted "old" half.

Once the old (half) exoskeleton is shed off the part that was in it has a chance to expand - the only time the animal can actually grow, for once the new "skin" hardens it will be constrained in that shape/size again until the next moult.

On the animal in your image the hind part has clearly already "expanded", so the old skin must have been off. The milky appearance hence is not caused by a loose layer of old skin, but by the ultra freshness of the newly exposed skin.

Nice documentary shot all the same though - just better to get the facts right with it :o)

Cheers, Arp

Nice capture...
...of this one slipping out of its skin!

 
Thanks Harsi,
it was actually stuck in its skin.... ran all over the place and nothing was coming off. :)

 
I've seen lizards....
...having the same problem! I always want to try and help them out, but for some reason they won't oblige me. (*smile*)

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