Moulted Collection

Moulted Reindeer antlers, Kapp Lee, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Arctic, Norway, Europe

Picture No. 11806878
Praying Mantis Praying Mantis moulted exoskeleton Klungkung Bali Indonesia Date:

Picture No. 11806877
Praying Mantis Praying Mantis moulted exoskeleton Klungkung Bali Indonesia Date:

Picture No. 11675425
European Garden Cross Spider newly moulted juvenile. Date:

Picture No. 11675424
European Garden Cross Spider juvenile moulting exoskeleton. Date:

Moulted insect skins, including dragonfly and damselfly

Woodlouse with partially moulted skin

Woodlouse with back half of skin shed and front half still on, perching on piece of wood, side view

Colony of greenflies (aphids), some with their skin moulting, close-up

Pennants Swimming Crab (Portumnus latipes) moult, on beach strandline, Gower Peninsula, Glamorgan, Wales, august

Pile of elk horns - Yellowstone National Park
Pile of elk horns in front of the post office - Yellowstone National Park. Date: circa 1910

Golden Mayfly (Hexagenia sp. ) exuvia of winged second moult, on house window, North Dakota, U. S. A. july
Golden Mayfly (Hexagenia sp.) exuvia of winged second moult, on house window, North Dakota, U.S.A. july

Katydid (Tettigoniidae sp. ) adult, moulting skin, hanging from leaf at night, Los Amigos Biological Station
Katydid (Tettigoniidae sp.) adult, moulting skin, hanging from leaf at night, Los Amigos Biological Station, Madre de Dios, Amazonia, Peru

Domestic Rabbit, adult, with owner brushing fur, England, october

Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) adult female, in worn plumage and heavy moult, in flight, Finland, june

Damselfly nymph skin. Light micrograph of the head and thorax of a shed skin from a damselfly nymph (Coenagrion sp.). This is the ventral (underside)

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In the remote Arctic region of Svalbard, Norway, lies a captivating phenomenon that occurs every year, and is the moulted reindeer antlers scattered across Kapp Lee in Spitsbergen, Europe's northernmost inhabited island. Picture No. 11806878 showcases this unique sight, with majestic antlers strewn across the barren landscape like nature's artwork. These discarded treasures tell a story of growth and renewal as reindeer shed their old antlers to make way for new ones. The Arctic holds many secrets, and Picture No. 11806877 reveals another intriguing aspect – the golden bristle worm feasting on a moulted shrimp shell amidst black sand. This delicate balance of life and death reminds us of nature's intricate web where one creature's discard becomes another's sustenance. But it is not only crustaceans that undergo moulting; insects too have their own transformative process. Picture No. 11675425 displays an array of dragonfly and damselfly skins left behind after they emerge into their adult forms. These ethereal exoskeletons serve as reminders of metamorphosis and evolution. Even humble woodlice experience moulting, as seen in Picture No. 11675424 where a partially shed skin clings to its body while perched on a piece of wood. This vulnerable moment captures the essence of adaptation and growth within these tiny creatures. Moulting also affects colonies such as greenflies or aphids, depicted in close-up detail in Picture No. 11675423. Here we witness these small insects shedding their old skin to make room for new growth – an endless cycle symbolizing resilience and regeneration. Moving away from land but still connected to moulting wonders is Picture No. 11806876 featuring Pennants Swimming Crab during its moult on Gower Peninsula's beach strandline in Glamorgan, Wales during August days filled with warmth and sunshine.