Factors influencing molting in the crayfish Procambarus clarki

Molting frequency is increased and intermolt period is decreased by autotomizing the chelipeds and/or walking legs of crayfish (Procambarus clarki) kept under constant environmental conditions. The increase in molting frequency cannot be explained by a loss of body mass since other operations which produced specific tissue damage to nerve or muscle fibers resulted in little or no loss of body mass yet these operations significantly increased molting frequency. Other factors associated with autotomy or nerve and muscle damage such as exoskeletal damage or loss of hemolymph have much less effect on molting frequency and immobilization actually decreases molting frequency. The molting responses to autotomy, muscle or nerve damage, immobilization, and overcrowding appear to be adaptively advantageous.