TYPES OF LARVAE AND PUPAE

Insects are one of  the organisms that undergo metamorphosis either incomplete or complete. In incomplete metamorphosis insects change from the eggs to larvae to adult. In all insects undergo three major changes in incomplete metamorphosis. Complete metamorphosis is the other way round, in this insects undergo four major changes. They develop from egg to larvae to pupa to adult (imago).  In the larvae and pupa stage, there are some types depending on the nature and the physiology of the organism. Here are some basic types of  larva and pupa.

TYPES OF LARVAE

Larvae is the feeding stage in which it undergoes complete transformations of body shape feeding habits and others. It accumulates enough food for the pupal stage as well as the adult stage till adult is able to fend for itself.

1.      ERUCIFORM:  Caterpillars with a cylindrical body, short thoracic legs and abdominal pro-legs. They possess hypognathous mouth-parts. They are usually found in lepidoptera.

2.      CAMPODEIFORM: Elongated flattened body with prognathous mouth-parts, well developed thoracic legs adapted for running. They also possess cercus or cerci. They are usually found in coleoptera and neuroptera.

3.      ELATERIFORM: Wireworm-like in nature, larvae are smooth, cylindrical with short legs and though skin.

4.      SCARABEIFORM: Grub-like in nature, curved , well developed head with thoracic legs but no abdominal legs

5.      VERMIFORM: Maggot-like (worm-like) elongate with a cylindrical body and no legs.

TYPES OF PUPAE

Pupa is the resting stage during which period muscles, wings and other characteristic features are developed. It is the period during which larva is transformed to adult.

1.      OBTECT:  This is the type of pupa has an antennae, wing pads and legs glued to its body. Example butterfly pupa (chrysalis), lepidoptera.

2.      EXARATE: it looks like a pale mummified adult not covered by cocoon. Appendages are free and undergo complete metamorphosis. Examples include Diptera and Lepidoptera.

3.      CO-ARTATE: It looks like an exarate but the last skin is hardened over it (puparium). They are usually found in some Diptera.