The document summarizes the structure and function of the insect body wall (exoskeleton or integument) and the process of moulting (ecdysis). It describes the main layers of the cuticle (epicuticle, exocuticle, endocuticle), their composition and functions. It also discusses the cellular layer (epidermis), cuticular appendages, glands and endoskeleton. The process of moulting is controlled by hormones and involves the detachment of the old cuticle (apolysis) and formation of a new cuticle in multiple steps over the moulting period (stadium). The discarded exoskeleton after moulting is called an exuv

1. Dr. T. KRISHNA CHAITANYA
Assistant Professor (Agricultural Entomology)
School of Agricultural Science & Technology, NMIMS, Shirpur
Body wall-its structure and function &
Moulting (Ecdysis) 1

2. • Insect body wall is called as Integument or Exoskeleton.
• It is the external covering of the body which is ectodermal in origin.
• It is rigid, flexible, lighter, stronger and variously modified in different body parts to
suit different modes of life.
• Structure Body wall consists of an inner cellular layer (Epidermis) and an outer non
cellular part (Cuticle).
• Epidermis It is an inner unicellular layer resting on basement membrane with the
following function.
• i. Cuticle secretion
• ii. Digestion and absorption of old cuticle
• iii. Wound repairing
• iv. Gives surface look
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4. • Cuticle
It is an outer non cellular layer comprising of three sub layers
i. Endocuticle
Compared to others it is the inner and thickest layer. This layer is made up of
Chitin and arthropodin. This layer is colourless, soft and flexible.
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5. ii. Exocuticle
Outer layer, much thicker with the composition of Chitin and
sclerotin. This layer is dark in colour and rigid.
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6. iii. Epicuticle:
Outer most layer which is very thin. Pore canals present in the
exocuticle helps in the deposition of epiculticle. This layer is
differentiated into the following layers.
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7. Epicuticle:
a. Inner epicuticle: It contains wax filaments
b. Outer epicuticle: It makes the contact with cuticulin
c. Cuticulin : Non chitinous polymerised lipoprotein layer.
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d. Wax layer: It contains closely packed wax molecules which
prevents desiccation.
e. Cement layer: Outer most layer formed by lipid and tanned protein.
It protects wax layer.

9. • Composition of cuticle
• i. Chitin: It is the main constituent of cuticle, which is Nitrogenous polysacharide
and polymer of Nacetylglucosamine. It is water insoluble but soluble in dilute acids,
alkalies and organic solvents.
• ii. Arthropodin: An untanned cuticular protein, which is water soluble.
• iii. Sclerotin: Tanned cuticular protein, which is water insoluble.
• iv. Resilin: An elastic cuticular protein responsible for the flexibility of sclerites,
e.g., wing articulatory sclerites.
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10. • ENDOSKELETON
• Cuticular in growth of body wall providing space for muscle attachment is known as
endoskeleton.
There are two types
i. Apodeme: Hollow invagination of body wall.
ii. Apophysis: Solid invagination of body wall.
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is that apodeme is (anatomy) an ingrowth of the arthropod exoskeleton, serving as an attachment
site for muscles while apophysis is (anatomy) a natural outgrowth, swelling or enlargement,
usually of an organism; a protuberance on a bone.

11. • CUTICULAR APPENDAGES:
• Non-cellular:
• Non-cellular appendages have no epidermal association, but rigidly attached.
e.g. minute hairs and thorns.
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12. • Cellular: Cellular appendages have eipdermal association.
• Unicellular
• a. Clothing hairs, plumose hairs. e.g. Honey bee. Bristles. e.g. flies.
• b. Scales - flattened out growth of body wall e.g. Moths and butterflies
• c. Glandular seta. et. caterpillar
• d. Sensory setae - associated with sensory neuron or neurons
• e. Seta - hair like out growth (Epidermal cell generating seta is known as
Trichogen, while The socket forming cell housing trichogen is known as
Tormogen. Study of arrangement of seta is known as Chaetotaxy).
• Multicellular
e.g. Spur - movable structure
Spine- Immovable structure
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14. • Clothing hairs, plumose hairs. e.g. Honey bee. Bristles. e.g. flies
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15. • Scales - flattened out growth of body wall e.g. Moths and butterflies
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16. • Glandular seta. et. caterpillar
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17. • Sensory setae - associated with sensory neuron or neurons
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18. • Seta - hair like out growth (Epidermal cell generating seta is known as
Trichogen, while
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• Multicellular
e.g.
Spur - movable structure
Spine- Immovable structure

20. • GLANDS
• Cuticular glands are either unicellular or multicellular.
• Following are some of the examples.
• i. Wax gland - e.g. Honey bee and mealy bug
• ii. Lac gland - e.g. Lac insects
• iii. Moulting gland secreting moulting fluid.
• iv. Androconia or scent scale - e.g.moth
• v. Poison gland - e.g. slug caterpillar
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21. • Wax gland - e.g. Honey bee and mealy bug
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22. • . Lac gland - e.g. Lac insects
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23. • Moulting gland secreting moulting fluid
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24. • Androconia or scent scale - e.g.moth
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25. • Poison gland - e.g. slug caterpillar
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26. • Functions of Body wall
i. Acts as external armour and strengthen external organs like jaws and ovipositor
ii. Protects the organs against physical aberation, injurious chemicals, parasites,
predators and pathogen.
iii. Internally protects the vital organs, foregut, hindgut and trachea.
iv. Provides space for muscle attachment and gives shape to the body.
v. Prevents water loss from the body.
vi. Cuticular sensory organs helps in sensing the environment.
vii. Cuticular pigments give colour.
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27. MOULTING (Ecdysis)
• Ecdysis
• Periodical process of shedding the old cuticle accompanied by the formation of
new cuticle is known as moulting or ecdysis.
• The cuticular parts discarded during moulting is known as Exuvia.
• Moulting occurs many times in an insect during the immatured stages before
attaining the adult-hood.
• The time interval between the two subsequent moulting is called as Stadium and
the form assumed by the insect in any stadium is called as Instar.
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28. • Steps in moulting
• Behaviroual changes: Larva stops feeding and become inactive.
• Changes in epidermis: In the epidermis cell size, its activity, protein content and
enzyme level increases. Cells divide miotically and increases the tension, which
results in loosening of cells of cuticle.
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29. • Aolysis: Detachment of cuticle from epidermis
• Formation of Sub cuticular space
• Secretion of moulting gel in the sub cuticular space which is rich with chitinase and
protease.
• New epicuticle formation: Lipoprotein layer (cuticulin) is laid over the epidermis.
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30. • Procuticle formation: Procuticle is formed below the epicuticle.
• Activation of moulting gel: Moulting gel is converted into moulting fluid rich in
enzymes. This activates endocuticle digestion and absorption.
• Wax layer formation: Wax threads of pore canals secrete wax layer.
• Cement layer formation : Dermal glands secretes cement layer (Tectocuticle).
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31. • Moulting: This involves two steps
• Rupturing of old cuticle: Insect increases its body volume through intake of air or
water which enhances the blood flow to head and thorax. There by the old cuticle
ruptures along predetermined line of weakness known as ecdysial line
• Removal of old cuticle: Peristaltic movement of body and lubricant action of
moulting fluid helps in the removal of old cuticle. During each moulting the
cuticular coverings discarded are the cuticular of legs, internal linings of foregut and
hindgut and trachea.
• Formation of exocuticle: The upper layer of procuticle develops as
exocuticle through addition of protein and tanning by phenolic substance.
• Formation of endocuticle: The lower layer of procuticle develops as
endocuticle through addition of chitin and protein. This layer increases in
thickness.
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33. • Control of Moulting: It is controlled by endocrine gland like prothoracic gland
which secrete moulting hormone. Endocrine glands are activated by prothoracico-
tropic hormones produced by neurosecretory cells of brain.
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34. • Moulting: Shedding of old cuticle accompanied by formation of new cuticle is
called Moulting or Ecdysis.
• Detachment of cuticle from the epidermis is apolysis
• The time interval between two moults is called a stadium
• The formation of an insect during a stadium is called an instar
• The cast off skin by an insect is called as exuviae
• Chitin which makes up the exo-and endocuticle is a nitrogenous polysaccharide
formed from long chains N-acetyl D-glucosamine units (C8H13O5N)n
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• O- Oxygen
• HO- Oxide anion
• OH- Hydroxide
• HN- Hydrazoic acid

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