Molt

The female ladybug lays eggs on the leaves of plants, which molt to nymphs and then to adults.

Once out of the ground, the cicadas molt and wait for their bodies to dry and harden, then they fly to the tops of trees where they feed and look for a mate, which they do by making a loud buzz.

Scientists say the mass emergence is key to the insects’ survival — there are too many for predators to eat all of them — and it usually happens at dusk. Once out of the ground, the cicadas molt and wait for their bodies to dry and harden, then they fly to the tops of trees where they feed and look for a mate, which they do by making a loud buzz.

Northern elephant seals are uniformly grey, tan, or brown but color generally begins to fade after the annual molt.

Some reptiles molt to adapt to seasonal temperature changes.