noun. The outermost layer of cuticle of an arthropod exoskeleton, composed mostly of wax.

noun. The outermost portion of the exoskeleton of an insect or arthropod.

"The Sec24CD dependent COPII vesicles, thus, carry cuticle components as diverse as for example the chitin synthase producing the bulk of the procuticle, factors of the extracellular melanisation pathway, and the yet unknown lipid-handling enzymes of the envelope and epicuticle."