In insects that undergo complete metamorphosis, what term correctly describes the immature stage?

In insects that undergo complete metamorphosis, what term correctly describes the immature stage?

• A. Nymph
• B. Pupa
• C. Larva
• D. Imago

Answer: (C)

In complete metamorphosis, the immature stage that focuses on growth and feeding and looks very different from the adult is the larva. These insects go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult (imago). The larva is the worm-like form (think caterpillars, maggots, or grubs) that eats and grows before entering a pupal stage, where transformation occurs to become the adult. The adult, or imago, is the sexually mature stage. A nymph describes the immature form in incomplete metamorphosis, where young look like small adults and there’s no pupal stage. So the term that best describes the immature stage in complete metamorphosis is larva.

In complete metamorphosis, the immature stage that focuses on growth and feeding and looks very different from the adult is the larva. These insects go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult (imago). The larva is the worm-like form (think caterpillars, maggots, or grubs) that eats and grows before entering a pupal stage, where transformation occurs to become the adult. The adult, or imago, is the sexually mature stage. A nymph describes the immature form in incomplete metamorphosis, where young look like small adults and there’s no pupal stage. So the term that best describes the immature stage in complete metamorphosis is larva.