
Life Cycle of Insects
- 1) The Egg – Stage 1 – Majority of insects begin their life in fertilized eggs. ...
- 2) The Larvae – Stage 2 – Insect larvae have several distinct ways of hatching. ...
- 3) The Pupa – Stage 3 – During this stage, the pupa is mostly resting and inactive. ...
- 4) The Adult – Stage 4 –
What are the four stages of an insect?
Insects with complete metamorphosis have four (4) life stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Larvae are very different in form from the adult. The active immature stages are known generally as larvae. These insects also have a resting stage known as a pupa. The pupal stage is a transition stage, when the larva transforms into the adult.
What are the stages of insect called's Life?
Life Cycle of Insects The Egg - Stage 1 - Majority of insects begin their life in fertilized eggs. ... The Larvae - Stage 2 - Insect larvae have several distinct ways of hatching. ... The Pupa - Stage 3 - During this stage, the pupa is mostly resting and inactive. The larval tissues collapse and reorganize the adult form of the pupa. ... The Adult - Stage 4 -
What is the life cycle of an insect?
The life cycle of the insect goes through 4 different stages. These 4 stages of the life cycle are the eggs, larvae, pupa, and adult stage. For instance, the life cycle of the butterfly is one of the most wonderful life cycle representations of insects. The butterflies undergo complete metamorphosis.
What insects go through complete metamorphosis?
What things go through metamorphosis?
- Life Cycle of Animals.
- Butterflies.
- Ants, Termites, Bees and Beetles.
- Grasshoppers and Dragonflies.
- Spiders and Scorpions.
- Frogs.

What are the different stages of growth for insects?
Some insects (like butterflies, but also beetles, flies, and bees) develop by complete metamorphosis with 4 life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
What are the 4 stages of development in complete metamorphosis?
Certain insects - like butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, ants, and beetles - grow through a unique life cycle called complete metamorphosis. Complete metamorphosis has four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
Do all insects go through 4 stages of development?
About 75% of all insect species go through the four stages of complete metamorphosis - egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larva is a specialized feeding stage that looks very different from the adult. Insects with simple metamorphosis have three life stages: egg, nymph and adult.
What are the 4 types of metamorphosis?
There are four types of metamorphosis (ametabolous, hemimetabolous, holometabolous, and hypermetamorphosis), each with different stages.
How many stages are there in insects?
four lifeHolometabolous insects undergo complete metamorphosis with four life stages namely egg, larvae, pupa and adult stage.
What are the 5 stages of metamorphosis?
CONTENTSEgg Stage of Complete Metamorphosis.Larval Stage of Complete Metamorphosis.Pupal Stage of Complete Metamorphosis.Imago Stage of Complete Metamorphosis.
How do insects grow and develop?
Growth progresses through successive stages. Females lay eggs, which hatch into an immature stage. After passing through a series of immature stages, the insect emerges as an adult. Adults mate and the cycle begins again.
Which insect has 3 stages of life cycle?
The grasshopper has three stages in its life cycle while the butterfly has four stages in its life cycle. B. The grasshopper lays eggs in water while the butterfly lays eggs on land.
What are the main insect life cycles?
There are four possible stages in the insect life cycle: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult. Not all insects will go through all four stages.
What are insects called before they grow up?
Larva: The immature form (between egg and pupa) of insects with complete metamorphosis. (Stages between molts of the exoskeleton are called instars). Pupa: When insects undergo complete metamorphosis, this is the form in between the last larval instar and the adult.
What is called metamorphosis?
metamorphosis, in biology, striking change of form or structure in an individual after hatching or birth. Hormones called molting and juvenile hormones, which are not species specific, apparently regulate the changes.
What is the final stage of metamorphosis?
In biology, the imago (Latin for "image") is the last stage an insect attains during its metamorphosis, its process of growth and development; it is also called the imaginal stage, the stage in which the insect attains maturity. It follows the final ecdysis of the immature instars.
What is the first stage in gradual metamorphosis?
The first stage of incomplete metamorphosis is the egg. During this time, the insect will hatch into a form called a nymph. The nymph is basically a small version of the adult insect. This is very similar to how a child looks like his or her parents.
What is the early life stage of any insects?
Egg Stage. The first stage of the insect is the egg stage. Almost all insects begin their life in the form of fertilized egg.
What is the life cycle of an insect pest?
What is the pest life cycle? To put it plainly, a pest's life cycle is the time it takes for an egg to grow, mature, and produce new eggs. Most insects follow three definite stages in their life cycle: Growth, Maturation, and Reproduction. Once an egg is laid, it goes through a growth stage.
What are the 3 types of metamorphosis?
The three types of metamorphosis are: ametabolous, hemimetabolous and holometabolous.
Which are the correct stages of development of an animal that undergoes complete metamorphosis?
Complete Metamorphosis Has Four Stages: Egg, Larva, Pupa, and Adult. In each stage of complete metamorphosis, the animal looks different than at all other stages.
What is the first stage of the life cycle of complete metamorphosis describe it?
The life cycle of holometabolous insects (those which undergo complete metamorphosis) includes four distinct stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis) and adult.
How many steps are in complete metamorphosis quizlet?
Complete metamorphosis has 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
What is the process of metamorphosis?
Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops including birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation.
1. What do you mean by Entomology?
Entomo is the Greek word for insects. Entomology is the scientific field that deals with the study of insects. The person that dedicates their prof...
2. What is the significance of entomology?
Entomology provides a significant contribution to the study of insects and their relationship with organisms, humans, and the environment. The stud...
3. Why is understanding the life cycle of insects important for agriculture?
Understanding the life cycle of the insects can go a long way in helping with the production in agriculture. Beyond understanding the life cycle of...
4. What are the advantages of referring to the Vedantu notes on “Insect life cycle”?
The Vedantu notes on the insect life cycle provide comprehensive documentation on the different stages of the life cycle, how they are distinct fro...
5. How can I refer to the Vedantu notes on “Insect life cycle”?
If you want to refer to the Vedantu notes on the “Insect life cycle” then you can download it from the website or the app. These notes are provided...
How many stages are there in holometabolous insects?
Among the holometabolous insects, there are four distinct developmental stages; the egg stage, the active larval stage with variable number of legs, the resting stage or the pupa, and the winged adult. The larvae of this group of insects display an enormous range of structural variations and are adapted for life in a wide variety of environments.
What is the term for the changes in form of an insect?
During development from the egg to adult, the changes in form are known as metamorphosis. In some groups of insects, the changes are slight and only the size of the body increases, being typical of ametabolism, e.g. silverfish of the sub-class Apterygota. In others the changes are very drastic and the immature stages look quite different from ...
How many prolegs does a caterpillar have?
Among lepidopteran larvae, the caterpillars bear five pairs of prolegs on third to sixth, and on the tenth abdominal segments. Many caterpillars are pests of crops; the larva of cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus), is of this type.
What are the young insects called?
Among hemimetabolous insects, most of the external structures and internal organs remain essentially the same and gradually transform into those of the adult; the young ones are called nymphs, and in some cases, naids (Odonata). In the holometabolous insects, there is the pupal stage in between the larva and adult. ADVERTISEMENTS:
What is the name of the process of holometabolism?
The direct development or incomplete metamorphosis is known as hemimetabolism and the indirect development or complete metamorphosis is known as holometabolism. The former is most prevalent in the Exopterygota and the young ones are commonly called nymphs. The latter is characteristic of Endopterygota and the young ones are commonly known as larvae.
How are larval organs destroyed?
In this stage, there is extensive destruction of the larval organs through histolysis and the tissues are broken up and dissolved through the activity of phagocytic blood-cells. The break down products are absorbed into the blood and provide material for the reconstruction of adult organs which are initiated from certain latent cells whose activity remains suppressed throughout the larval period.
Which insect has three pairs of legs?
The apodous form lacks all the legs and its head may be well developed, reduced or absent altogether. The oligopod type is well- developed with three pairs of legs on thorax. Larvae of insects in the orders Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera are polypods.
What are the stages of an insect's life cycle?
The 4 stage life cycle insects are very common in nature. The four stages are eggs, larvae, pupa, and adult stage. For example: Consider the life cycle of a butterfly. A butterfly is considered as one of the most beautiful 4 stage life cycle insects.
Where do insects start their life cycle?
The first stage of an insect life cycle is the egg stage. Almost all of the insects start their life as a fertilized egg. These eggs are tiny and come in a variety of colours, shapes, and sizes. You can easily find insect eggs on leaves, branches, and on the ground.
How do insects evolve?
Once the larva is done eating and storing food, it starts to enter the pupa stage. During this stage, the insect is mostly motionless, and it keeps resting until it is ready to transform into an adult insect. At this stage, the insect cannot feed on anything. The larvae always form a cocoon, to protect it from outside danger. The cocoon can be made up of different materials such as mud, silk, seeds, plant materials, or ground litter. The changes that happen inside the cocoon is called metamorphosis. Once the changes are complete, it will emerge out as an adult insect.
What is the study of insects called?
Ans. Entomo is a Greek word that means insects. Entomology is a field of science which deals with the study of insects. A person who dedicates their life in the field of entomology is called an entomologist. However, you don't need to be an entomologist to study the exciting and beautiful world of insects. Entomology is also the study of insect's nature in the wild. Here you get to look at the behaviour pattern, feeding pattern, genetics, adaptation, mating, hunting habits, and nomenclature of insects.
What is the function of an adult insect?
The primary function of an adult insect is to find a mate and reproduce the next generation of its species.
How many stages of life do nymphs have?
Nymphs only have three stages of the life cycle. There are eggs, nymphs, and adult insects. The eggs hatch directly into nymphs, and they continuously shed their skin or shell to form into adult insects. The nymph and the adult don't need to look the same.
What is the process of a larvae forming a cocoon?
The larvae always form a cocoon, to protect it from outside danger. The cocoon can be made up of different materials such as mud, silk, seeds, plant materials, or ground litter. The changes that happen inside the cocoon is called metamorphosis. Once the changes are complete, it will emerge out as an adult insect.
What stage of the hemimetabolous insect cycle do nymphs grow?
Growth for hemimetabolous insects occurs during the nymph stage. Nymphs resemble the adults in most ways, particularly in appearance, exhibit similar behaviors, and typically share the same habitat and food as the adults. In winged insects, nymphs develop external wings as they molt and grow.
What are the stages of gradual metamorphosis?
Gradual metamorphosis is marked by three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Entomologists refer to insects that undergo gradual metamorphosis as "hemimetabolous," from "hemi," meaning "part," and may classify this type of transformation as incomplete metamorphosis.
What Are the Types of Metamorphosis?
Entomologists classify insects into three groups based on the type of metamorphosis they undergo: ametabolous, hemimetabolous, and holometabolous.
What is an ametabolous insect?
Ametabolous: Little or No Metamorphosis. The most primitive insects, such as springtails , silverfish, and firebrats, undergo little or no true metamorphosis over the course of their life cycles. Entomologists refer to these insects as "ametabolous," from the Greek for "having no metamorphosis.".
What is the term for an insect that undergoes complete metamorphosis?
Entomologists call insects that undergo complete metamorphosis "holometabolous," from "holo," meaning "total.". The larvae of holometabolous insects bear no resemblance to their adult counterparts. Their habitats and food sources may be entirely different from the adults as well.
What is the name of the insect that molts and grows?
Larvae grow and molt, usually multiple times. Some insect orders have unique names for their larval forms: butterfly and moth larvae are caterpillars; fly larvae are maggots, and beetle larvae are grubs. When the larva molts for the final time, it transforms into a pupa.
What happens to an insect after it leaves its egg?
After leaving its egg, an insect must grow and undergo a series of physical transformations until reaching adulthood. (Only adult insects can mate and reproduce.) The transformative changes an insect passes through as it moves from one stage of its life cycle to the next is called metamorphosis. While about 10 percent of insects undergo what's ...
How many stages of an ant life?
Ants begin as an egg then go through many instar/larval stages and a pupal stage before becoming adults. There are three possible adult forms that an ant can become: male ant, queen ant, or female ant. These images are from a scanning electron microscope.
What happens at the end of the larval stage?
At the end of the larval stage the insect will make a hard shell and inside it will become a pupa. At this stage the larva will stop eating and moving. The pupa appears lifeless, but one of Nature’s most amazing transformations is happening.
What is the name of the process where an insect hatches from an egg?
Complete metamorphosis begins with the insect hatching from an egg into a soft worm-like shape called a larva. Larvae have a very big appetite and can eat several times their own body weight every day. If humans did the same thing, babies would start out eating as much as 10 pounds of food each day. For insects, this super-sized larva diet makes them grow very fast.
What are larvae called?
Some larvae add more body segments as they grow. Scientists refer to these developmental changes as instars which are similar to how humans call their children babies, toddlers, or teenagers. For example, instead of being called a baby, a very young larva would be called an instar 1 and a teenager would be called an instar 3. The number of instar stages can be different depending on the type of insect.
What is an instar?
Instar: stages in the growth of a larva.
What are some examples of complete metamorphosis?
This is different from incomplete metamorphosis where the early stages of development look like tiny versions of the adult. Butterflies are an example of an insect that goes through all the stages of complete metamorphosis.
How do insects grow?
Insects grow in increments. Each stage of growth ends with molting, the process of shedding and replacing the rigid exoskeleton. People often think molting is the simple act of an insect breaking out of its skin and leaving it behind. In truth, the process is complex and involves several parts.
What happens when an insect's epidermis is formed?
When the epidermis has formed the new cuticle, muscular contractions and air intake cause the insect’s body to swell, thus splitting open the remains of the old cuticle. Finally, the new cuticle hardens. The bug squeezes out from the outgrown exoskeleton.
What is the outermost layer of an insect's exoskeleton?
To understand how molting occurs, it helps to know the three layers of the insect exoskeleton. The outermost layer is called the cuticle. The cuticle protects the insect against physical injury and water loss, as well as provides rigidity for muscle. It is this outermost layer that sheds during a molt.
What happens to an insect after it hatches?
After egg hatches, the immature insect feeds and grows. Its exoskeleton is like a shell. Eventually, the larva or nymph must shed its unyielding overcoat to continue its development.
Why do insects molt?
For some insects, a big benefit to having a system of molting for growth is that it allows damaged tissue and missing limbs to be regenerated or substantially reformed. Complete regeneration may require a series of molts, the stump becoming a little larger with each molt until it is a normal or nearly back to normal size.
What is the process of molting?
In molting, the epidermis separates from the outermost cuticle. Then, the epidermis forms a protective layer around itself and secretes chemicals that break down the insides of the old cuticle. That protective layer becomes part of the new cuticle.
