What do you call the skin shed by an insect or worm? I am sure there’s a word for it, and also is there another verb that means "shed a skin"? Because "shed a skin" is a verb and I am wondering if there’s a word replacement for it.
Answer
Worms don’t shed their skin. Snakes do, but you’d call the shed skin a "snake skin". Generally there is no special word, you just say "’animal name’ skin" or "… shell" (depending on how hard it is)
Most insects don’t shed their skins as adults. Some do shed a skin as they transform from larvae to adult insects. For example, cicada will leave "cicada shells" on trees. You occasionally find grasshopper shells too. You also find shed crab shells and the shed skins of spiders.
The verb is usually "shed" but you can also "moult" and "slough" (as per comment) (Moult also means replacing hair or feathers)
There is a highly technical word, but don’t use it unless you are writing a scientific paper. I didn’t know this word before researching this answer.
The technical word is exuvia (plural exuviae)
Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : newton , Answer Author : James K
