Entomology is the study of insects. This page provides a short story about the metamorphosis of insects.
In their development from egg to adult, insects change in form. The different instars are not alike, which is called metamorphosis. There are two general types of metamorphosis: simple metamorphosis and complete metamorphosis.
In simple metamorphosis the wings develop externally during the larval stages. The larval stages, which are called nymphs, look very similar to the adult insect. There is no pupal stage.
The figure shows the development from an egg via 5 larval instars to an adult bug.
In a complete metamorphosis the wings develop internally during the larval stages. The larval stages look quite different from the adult. Between the last larval stage and the adult stage there is a pupal stage which usually is inactive.
The figure shows the development from an egg via the larval stage (caterpillar) and pupa to an adult butterfly or moth.
Last updated by Hein Bijlmakers: 22 January 1998 bijlmake@citechco.net |
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