Metamorphosis The word “metamorphosis” means to transform.

Complete Metamorphosis A 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. This is different from an 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.

A 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.

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. Inside the pupa, the larva’s body will completely change into a fully grown adult.  Once the adult leaves the pupa it slowly stretches out and relaxes under the sun for a couple of hours while its exoskeleton dries out and hardens.

Insects with complete metamorphosis include beetles, bees, ants, butterflies, moths, fleas, and mosquitoes. Beetles Bee Ant Butterfly Moths Mosquitoes Fleas

Incomplete Metamorphosis An incomplete Metamorphosis has three stages: Egg, Nymph, and Adult ° 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. ° Nymphs usually have a thin exoskeleton and no wings. ° They eat the same food as their parents and live in the same place. ° As insect nymphs grow larger, their exoskeleton becomes too tight and they must replace it.

Once a nymph outgrows leaves the old “skin” or exoskeleton behind Once a nymph outgrows leaves the old “skin” or exoskeleton behind. The new “skin” will harden and become the new exoskeleton. This will happen many times until the insect finally becomes the size of an adult. In grasshopper metamorphosis, you can see that young grasshoppers (1-5) look very similar to the adults (6) as they grow larger.

Insects that have an incomplete metamorphosis life cycle include true bugs, grasshoppers, cockroaches, termites, praying mantises, crickets, and lice. True Bug Grasshopper Cockroach Lice Termite Praying Mantis Cricket