larve

A larve, or larva in English, is the juvenile form of an animal that undergoes metamorphosis or distinct developmental stages before reaching the adult form. Larval stages are common across many groups, including insects, crustaceans, amphibians, and nematodes. Larvae are often morphologically different from adults and are typically adapted for growth, feeding, or dispersal.

In insects, larvae are a central part of the life cycle. In species with complete metamorphosis (holometabolous), such as butterflies, moths, beetles, bees, and flies, the life cycle proceeds from egg to larva to pupa to adult. The larva is usually worm-like and specialized for feeding, often called a caterpillar, maggot, grub, or another common name depending on the group. After several molts (instars), the larva enters a pupal stage during which transformation occurs before the adult emerges. In species with incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabolous), such as grasshoppers, true bugs, and cockroaches, the immature stages (naiads or nymphs) resemble the adult and gradually acquire adult features through molts.

Larval forms also occur in other animals. In crustaceans, common larval stages include the nauplius. Amphibians such as frogs have aquatic larval stages called tadpoles, which later metamorphose into adults. Nematodes pass through various larval instars en route to adulthood.

Ecologically, larvae play key roles as feeders, detritivores, or predators and often occupy different habitats than adults, aiding species dispersal. The study of larvae helps explain growth strategies, metamorphosis, and the life histories of diverse organisms.