This process takes place between instars. What is it called?

The process that takes place between instars is known as molting. During this phase, an organism sheds its exoskeleton in order to grow and transition into the next stage of its life cycle. This process is crucial for arthropods, such as insects and crustaceans, as it allows them to accommodate their increasing size and to sometimes alter their form or function in response to environmental changes.

Molt is part of the broader transformational journey that a creature undergoes, characterized by distinct stages called instars. While metamorphosis refers to the overall transformation that certain organisms undergo—oftentimes encompassing several molts and culminating in a significantly different adult form—molting specifically pertains to the shedding of exoskeletal materials, marking the direct transition stage between instars. Understanding this distinction highlights the significance of molting as a vital biological process in the growth and development dynamics of various species.