Which statement is true about insect molting?

Adult insects do not molt because they have reached their final stage of development, known as the adult stage or imago. Insects undergo a series of molts throughout their life stages—specifically during the larval stage and during metamorphosis—where they transition from one life stage to another, such as from larva to pupa, or from pupa to adult. Once they become adults, their body structure is fully developed and they no longer need to grow in size or undergo further changes in form.

The notion that adult insects do not molt because they do not grow is based on the life cycle of insects, where growth is predominantly achieved through molting in earlier stages. This regression into non-molting behavior signifies that they have completed their growth and no longer require the process of shedding their exoskeleton to accommodate an increase in body size.

Molting is not for the purposes of exfoliation, nor is it specifically about replacing lost limbs; rather, it serves the larger purpose of growth or transition into a different developmental stage. Therefore, the understanding of adult insects not molting aligns with the biological principles governing their life cycles.