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For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
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larva, larvae, larval

Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
No Taxon (Glossary)
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 (ecdysis) 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.)
Remarks
See Also
Stages of insect with complete metamorphosis
egg (embryo)
imago (adult)

Immature stages of insects
larva
Print References
Gordh, A Dictionary of Entomology, p. 510 (1)
Works Cited
1.A Dictionary of Entomology
George Gordh, David H. Headrick. 2003. CABI Publishing.