Uploaded June 2015 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Neobarrettia spinosa female molts to 4th instar (L4). You can tell she's a female by the long ovipositor at the end of her abdomen that will continue to lengthen with each molt and be used to deposit ova (eggs) in soil as an adult.
I'm fascinated by the molting process of insects. It seems with every new species I document I discover another amazing adaptation. The antennae of this species are much too long to pull from the old skin (exuvia) simply by hanging as the rest of the limbs are. This forces the katydid to use their mouth parts to grip and pull the antennae a few millimeters at a time until finally freed.
Soundtrack by Precarious
To use this video in a commercial player, advertising or in broadcasts, please email Viral Spiral: contact@viralspiralgroup.com
Neobarrettia spinosa female molts to 4th instar (L4). You can tell she's a female by the long ovipositor at the end of her abdomen that will continue to lengthen with each molt and be used to deposit ova (eggs) in soil as an adult.
I'm fascinated by the molting process of insects. It seems with every new species I document I discover another amazing adaptation. The antennae of this species are much too long to pull from the old skin (exuvia) simply by hanging as the rest of the limbs are. This forces the katydid to use their mouth parts to grip and pull the antennae a few millimeters at a time until finally freed.
Soundtrack by Precarious
To use this video in a commercial player, advertising or in broadcasts, please email Viral Spiral: contact@viralspiralgroup.com
