Insect Life Cycles
 |
This article has been peer reviewed but is awaiting expert review. If you would like to help with this, please see more information about expert reviewing. |
Most adult female insects are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs which hatch after deposition
Some adult female insects are viviparous, they lay larvae or nymphs, and the eggs rupture in female reproductive tract
Simple Metamorphosis
Hemimetabolous: nymphs emerge from the eggs which resemble the adult but are sexually immature. The nymph grows and undergoes several ecdyses, also known as moults. The nymphs become adults. E.g. sucking lice.
Hemimetabolous = Egg - Nymph - Adult (3 stages)
Complex Metamorphosis
Holometabolous: larvae emerge from the eggs and do not resemble the adults. The larva feeds, grows and undergoes several ecdyses. Larva undergoes a quiescent stage where the outer cuticle hardens to form a pupa, some species have a silken cocoon. The adult develops inside the pupal case before emerging e.g. fleas and dipteran flies.
Holometabolous = Egg - Larva - Pupa - Adult (4 stages)