What process refers to the shedding of an insect's skin?

The process of shedding an insect's skin is known as molting. This is a critical aspect of an insect's life cycle, as it allows for growth and the replacement of damaged or worn exoskeletons. During molting, an insect will release its old exoskeleton and form a new, larger one. This process is essential for insects because their exoskeletons do not grow; instead, they must be shed and regenerated to accommodate the insect as it grows.

Insect molting is regulated by hormones, specifically ecdysteroids, and involves a series of physiological changes. It's during the molting process that insects are particularly vulnerable, as they are without a hard exoskeleton until the new one hardens.

While other terms like ecdysis and exuviation are also associated with the shedding of an exoskeleton, molting is the term most commonly used to describe the overall process in the context of entomology. Ecdysis refers specifically to the act of shedding the outer skin, while exuviation can imply the process of casting off exuviae, or the remnants of the shed skin. Therefore, molting is the most appropriate and widely recognized term for the overall process of shedding an insect's skin