Why doesn't an insect grow continuously?

Insects do not grow continuously because they undergo a process called metamorphosis, which includes distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Between these stages, insects experience molting, where they shed their exoskeleton to grow. This growth is not continuous; rather, it occurs in discrete steps as they transition from one life stage to another. Additionally, the rigid exoskeleton limits continuous growth, necessitating these periodic molts.