Larva

A larva is the immature form of an animal that undergoes metamorphosis to reach its adult stage. In many species, the larva is morphologically distinct from the adult and occupies different habitats, feeding strategies, and ecological roles.

In insects, larvae are usually adapted for feeding and growth. Familiar examples include caterpillars (butterflies and moths), maggots (flies), and grubs (beetles). Many larvae are mobile and worm-like, but others are free-living aquatic forms. Some larvae are parasitic. Outside insects, larval forms are common in other animal groups as well, such as tadpoles in amphibians.

There are two broad patterns of metamorphosis. In complete metamorphosis (holometabolism), the life cycle follows egg–larva–pupa–adult, and the larva often looks very different from the adult. In incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabolism), immature stages called nymphs or naiads resemble the adult, increasing in size and maturity through molts without a pupal stage. Examples include grasshoppers and true bugs for hemimetabolism, and aquatic dragonflies for naiads.

The larval stage commonly specializes in resource exploitation and dispersal, enabling adults to occupy different ecological niches. The transition to the adult form often involves changes in behavior, diet, and habitat, shaping the life history and evolution of the group.