🕷️ Spider Molting 🌐 Spiders must molt to grow, shedding their exoskeleton—a rigid structure composed of proteins and chitin—to form a new, larger one. The process begins with hormones that initiate the breakdown of the inner exoskeleton layer, allowing for nutrient reabsorption and the expansion of a new exoskeleton. Young spiders like tarantulas can molt monthly, while adults may do so annually. The frequency and stages of molting can vary among species. During molting, spiders are vulnerable