Answer :
Final answer:
The hormone Ecdysone stimulates the hardening and darkening of an insect's procuticle, a key part of its exoskeleton. This process, called sclerotization, is crucial for the insect's survival.
Explanation:
The hardening and darkening of the insect procuticle, which is the outermost layer of their exoskeleton, is stimulated by a hormone named Ecdysone. This process is known as sclerotization, and is crucial for an insect's survival as it provides rigidity to their exoskeleton, protection against physical damage, and forms a barrier against infection. The hormone Ecdysone triggers molting, i.e., the shedding of the old exoskeleton and formation of a new one that will later harden and darken.
Learn more about Ecdysone here:
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