Just to point out, with full knowledge that the world of invertebrates is unique from the world of vertebrates, the Rhacodactylus ciliatus species, or the crested gecko, also consumes their shed skin. Unlike invertebrates, these geckos have very elastic skin and grow gradually, not in bursts in post-molt periods. They do so simply to recycle their skin and for convenience, but the process is not crucial to survival.
I believe it is possible that centipedes also consume their shed skin to recycle the nutrients, as well as to remove organic matter that may attract pests, but that the behavior is not crucial to molting. As I pointed it previously, some of the true spiders will consume extra webbing. This is mentioned on p. 57 of the Tarantula Keeper's Guide, and elsewhere, and is an example of "recycling" behavior in an organism much closer to centipedes than a gecko. The true spiders consume the extra silk because it is a waste of rich nutrients to leave it, but the action is not crucial to their survival.
I do not know whether the nutrients from a centipede's molt are necessary for the molting process. I do know that there are many examples in nature of organisms simply recycling extra nutrients once they are done with them. Many mammals will consume the placenta after birth for the same reason. Perhaps the pattern of recycling is simply repeating itself here.
I believe it is possible that centipedes also consume their shed skin to recycle the nutrients, as well as to remove organic matter that may attract pests, but that the behavior is not crucial to molting. As I pointed it previously, some of the true spiders will consume extra webbing. This is mentioned on p. 57 of the Tarantula Keeper's Guide, and elsewhere, and is an example of "recycling" behavior in an organism much closer to centipedes than a gecko. The true spiders consume the extra silk because it is a waste of rich nutrients to leave it, but the action is not crucial to their survival.
I do not know whether the nutrients from a centipede's molt are necessary for the molting process. I do know that there are many examples in nature of organisms simply recycling extra nutrients once they are done with them. Many mammals will consume the placenta after birth for the same reason. Perhaps the pattern of recycling is simply repeating itself here.