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Function
Arthropods that maintain the same form but keep on growing, such as grasshoppers, spiders and crabs, need to shed their hard old exoskeletons (hard outer shells or skins) periodically. Their exoskeletons are not flexible and do not grow with the animal.
Process
Blue crabs molt the most when they are growing the fastest. This period is usually during the spring and summer. During the winter, they are semi-dormant. Because blue crabs are vulnerable during and after the molt, they look for shelter during this time.
Time Frame
During the growth period, larger crabs molt every 30 or so days. Although it appears the phase of the moon does not directly affect blue crabs, the tides might. The most likely time of month for blue crabs to molt is supposedly during high tides, at the time of the full moon. Although this theory has not been scientifically proven, it is true that high tides provide more potential hiding places for molting crabs.