larva, larvae, larval

Classification · Explanation of Names · Identification · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

No Taxon (Glossary --use Taxonomy, then Info tabs to view entries)

No Taxon (L)

No Taxon larva, larvae, larval

Explanation of Names

From Latin, larva a mask, a ghost.

Identification

larva noun, plural larvae, adjective larval - An insect after issuing from the egg; in particular the second stage of an insect with complete metamorphosis. The term caterpillar is generally applied to the larvae of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera). The larval stage is when the insect grows most in size--the growth is interrupted by molts of the integument, and each stage between molts is called an instar.

The immature stages of an insect with simple metamorphosis are called nymphs. (If aquatic, these are called naiads.)

egg (embryo)

larva (caterpillar, planidium/triungulin)

pupa

imago (adult)

Immature stages of insects

metamorphosis

nymph

naiad

larva

Print References

Gordh, A Dictionary of Entomology, p. 510 (1)

Internet References

Jardine's Dictionary of Entomology

Works Cited

1.	A Dictionary of Entomology By George Gordh, David H. Headrick

Contributed by Cotinis on 24 May, 2007 - 8:09pm
Last updated 6 March, 2008 - 3:41am

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