Metamorphosis

‘Meta’ = Change, ‘morph’ = form or structure

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Series of changes that takes place during the development of an insect from egg to adult are
collectively known as metamorphosis.
• Metamorphosis include three developmental processes
Growth- Larva
differentiation - Pupa
Reproduction- adult
• The presence of hard exoskeleton on the body prevents the growth of larva
• The series of moults during larval stage allow them to increase their body size/growth.
The number of moults in general may vary from 5-6

Instar: It is the form of the body during two inter moults

The larva is known as first instar, immediately after hatching from egg, and as second
instar after first moult and so on
Stadium : The interval or time period between two moults is known as stadium

Exuviae : The skin shed during moulting process is known as exuviae

Imago (or) Adult : It is the final stage of insect with well developed organs for reproduction,
which emerges out from pupal body
Sub-imago: It is a pre adult stage with fully developed wings but without reproductive
organs Eg: mayflies (Ephemeroptera)
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1. Ametamorphosis :
The insect hatches from the egg, it resembles the adult in all the characters except the small
body size, which later increases, until they reach sexual maturity with well developed
reproductive organs.
e.g.: Apterygotes like silver fish, springtails

2. Incomplete metamorphosis or hemi or direct or simple metamorphosis

• includes egg, nymph and adult stages
• The nymph resembles the adult except wings
• wing buds transform in to fully developed wings in adult
• wings develop externally and hence Exopterygota
• Pupal stage is absent hence, development is said to be direct and simple

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3. Complete (or) holometamorphosis or indirect development
• The life cycle includes four stages; egg,larva, pupa and adult
• Larva differs from the adult both in body structure and habits
• Larva has both thoracic and abdominal legs
• sometimes legs may be absent in larva, where as adult has only thoracic legs
• Compound eyes are absent in larva
• Larva undergoes moulting to enter in to pupal stage from which the adult insect emerges
• Wings develop internally, hence Endoptreygotes

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4. Intermediate metamorphosis:
In this case, insects may undergo either
hemi or holometamorphosis.
If they undergo holometamorphosis,
there is a short pupal stage.
e.g.: coccids, thrips etc

5. Hypermetamorphosis:
This is a peculiar type of development which
consists of two or more types or forms of larvae
in the life cycle of insects
In majority of the cases the first larval instar is
campodeiform and the subsequent larval forms
depends on type and mode of life of the larva

E.g.: In blister beetle (Meloidae; Coleoptera),

The first larval instar is campodeiform followed by scarabeiform larval type
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 Diapause
• Diapause is represented by low rate of metabolism, O2 consumption and body weight
• low body water content and vitamin deficiency in the blood
• Diapause may occur in egg, larva, nymph, pupa or adult stage

• Egg - Bombyx mori;

• Larval - Euproctis sp., Pectinophora gossypiella;
• Pupal- Red hairy Caterpillar (Amsacta albistriga)
• Adult - Mango nut weevil (Sternochaetus mangiferae)

Diapause is of two types:

1. Obligatory: It is a hereditary character controlled by genes and is species specific
e.g. egg diapause in silkworm
2. Facultative: It is due to unfavorable conditions and with the onset of favourable condition, the
insect regains its original activity. e.g. Pectinophora gossypiella

• The unfavourable conditions may be biotic or abiotic

• Biotic conditions are natural enemies, population density etc.
• abiotic conditions are temperature, rainfall, humidity, photoperiod, type of food etc.

“aestivation” - diapause during summer due to high temperatures

“hibernation” - inactivity during winter due to low temperatures known as

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Types of Larvae and Pupae

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Immature stages of exopterygotes -Nymphs and endopterygotes -Larvae

Larva Nymph
immature stage of Immature stage of
endopterygotes exopterygotes
undergoes holometamorphosis undergoes
hemimetamorphosis
Body is vermiform Body resembles the adult in
all the characters except wings
Consists of ocelli and reduced Have compound eyes and
antennae antennae
Possess both thoracic and Possess only thoracic legs
abdominal legs
larva is different from adult in Nymph resembles the adult in
feeding habits and behaviour feeding habits and behaviour
The larva enters pupal stage No pupal stage

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 Types of larva
1. Protopod larva: Eg: parasitic Hymenoptera
•The larva emerge from egg in an early embryonic phase as the egg contain less yolk

•The larvae are partially developed with well developed head and thoracic segment

•Lack segmentation in the abdomen

•They possess rudimentary cephalic, thoracic appendages but no abdominal appendages

•have partially developed digestive and underdeveloped respiratory, nervous systems

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2. Oligopod larva : These are characterized by the presence of well developed
thoracic legs, head capsule and without any abdominal legs
Campodeiform Scarabaeiform
body is long and fusiform Body is ‘C’ shaped
dorso-ventrally compressed cylindrical or sub
with sclerotized cuticle cylindrical, stout and fleshy
Prognathous Hypognathous
Long thoracic legs Short thoracic legs
Anal cerci are present Absent
Active Inactive
Predatory Phytophagous
Ex: Neuroptera, Trichoptera e.g.: Scarabidae of Coleoptera

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 3. Polypod larva (Eruciform larva):
larva possess well defined segmentation of the body with 3 pairs of thoracic legs, 2-5 pairs of
abdominal legs (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 10th). They are phytophagous and destructive

A. Hairy caterpillar:
Eg: Red hairy caterpillar (Amsacta albistriga)
Castor hairy caterpillar ( Pericalia ricini)

B. Sphingid caterpillar / larva: Larva consists

of a horn on dorsal surface of 8th abd segment
Eg: Acherontia styx(Gingelly death head moth)

C. Looper : Only two pairs of abdominal legs on

6 th and last abdominal segment.
During walking the insect body forms complete
loop like structure hence, looper
Eg: Mango looper, Thalassodes quadraria D. Semilooper :
e.g.: Castor semilooper (Achoea janata).
First two pairs of abdominal legs(on 3 rd and 4
th segments) are reduced
hence a part of the insect body forms a small
loop during its movement
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4. Apodous larva : These are characterized by the absence of trunk appendages (or) legs.They
possess 3 pairs of sensory papillae in the place of thoracic legs. They are usually derived
from Oligopod type.
Based on the degree of development of head capsule and its appendages, they are divided in to 3

a. Eucephalous : e.g.: Sub order Nematocera of Diptera,

Mosquito (Culcidae)
The larva consists of a well sclerotized head capsule

b. Hemicephalous. e.g.: Brachycera of Diptera,

robberflies (Asilidae)
Larva possess partially developed head capsule

C. Acephalous e.g.: Cyclorrhapa of Diptera,

Muscidae ( houseflies)
The larva are characterized by the absence of head
capsule and mouth parts are represented by mouth hooks

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 Types of Pupae
• It is resting and inactive stage of the holometabolous insects
• The wings are developed and the insect attain matured sexual organs
• The pupa is incapable of feeding, locomotion except where they crawl (Neuroptera) (Aphid
lion), can swim e.g.: mosquitoes.
Pupa represents a Pharate adult stage and later it emerges as adult, pupation may takes
place either in soil, or on the plant surface or within the webs
Based on the presence or absence of powerful mandibles

I Decticous pupae
Possess relatively powerful mandibles which are used for
escaping of the adult from the cocoon i.e. to break the cocoon
e.g.: Neuroptera

II Adecticous pupae
Do not possess the mandibles but with the help of other
appendages, adults escape from the cocoon
eg: Lepidoptera, Diptera

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II. Based on the attachment on the appendages (or) shape of the pupae.

1. Exarate pupa e.g.: most of the Coleoptera

The pupae have appendages which are free without
any secondary attachment to the body

2. Obtect pupa eg: Lepidoptera (moths)

The pupae have appendages which are firmly pressed
against the body and the pupa is highly chitinized

3. Coarctate e.g.: Cyclorrhapha of Diptera (housefly)

The pupa remain enclosed in a puparium formed by the
last larval skin and the pupa looks like a capsule or barrel

4. Chrysalis It is an obtect type of pupa which has

Golden/brighter colouration and a stalk eg: butterflies.

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