<p>
 I’ve been noticing these odd, insect-like things on my softboard for quite a long time now. I hadn’t been brave enough to touch them, but since they hadn’t moved in forever, I decided to take a closer look.
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized">
 <img alt="IMG_20190411_232838" class="wp-image-144261 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="144261" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.083333333333333","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190411_232838" data-recalc-dims="1" height="321" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_144260/IMG_20190411_232838.jpg" width="233"/>
 <figcaption>
  The moulted exoskeleton of an insect I found on my softboard
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
 While I mounted it on my slide with forceps, I realized that it was flimsy, and seemed transparent. It appeared to be the exoskeleton shed off by some insect.
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20190411_233244" class="wp-image-144262 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="144262" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.1","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190411_233244" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_144260/IMG_20190411_233244.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
  A closer look: what could those bubble-like holes be? Places where the hair have fallen off, or openings for the spiracles, through which the insect breathes?
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20190411_234201" class="wp-image-144264 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="144264" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"300","shutter_speed":"0.04","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190411_234201" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_144260/IMG_20190411_234201.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
  Insect exoskeletons are made up of chitin – is that what gives it this crystalline appearance?
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20190411_233726" class="wp-image-144263 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="144263" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"1500","shutter_speed":"0.1","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190411_233726" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_144260/IMG_20190411_233726.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
  This seems to be the head
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20190411_235211" class="wp-image-144265 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="144265" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"1500","shutter_speed":"0.1","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190411_235211" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_144260/IMG_20190411_235211.jpg"/>
</figure>


Molted exoskeleton of an insect

manalinayak13

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