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Metamorphosis

The document discusses the four types of metamorphosis in insects: Ametabola (no metamorphosis), Hemimetabola (incomplete metamorphosis), Paurometabola (gradual metamorphosis), and Holometabola (complete metamorphosis), detailing their life stages and characteristics. It also explains diapause, a period of arrested growth in insects, which can occur at various life stages and is categorized into obligatory and facultative types. An example of obligatory diapause is provided with the egg diapause in silkworms.

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Soumik Dey Roy
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5 views1 page

Metamorphosis

The document discusses the four types of metamorphosis in insects: Ametabola (no metamorphosis), Hemimetabola (incomplete metamorphosis), Paurometabola (gradual metamorphosis), and Holometabola (complete metamorphosis), detailing their life stages and characteristics. It also explains diapause, a period of arrested growth in insects, which can occur at various life stages and is categorized into obligatory and facultative types. An example of obligatory diapause is provided with the egg diapause in silkworms.

Uploaded by

Soumik Dey Roy
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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BRAINWARE UNIVERSITY

CC-BAG272 (CLASS NOTE) FUNDAMENTALS OF ENTOMOLOGY

Metamorphosis and Diapause in Insects: Types of


Insect Egg, Larvae and Pupae

 Metamorphosis:
Metamorphosis is the change in growth and development an insect undergoes during its
life cycle from birth to maturity. There are four basic types of metamorphosis in insects ̶

1) Ametabola: (No metamorphosis) e.g. Silverfish.


These insects have only three stages in their life namely egg, young ones and adult. It is
most primitive type of metamorphosis. The hatching insect resembles the adult in all respects
except for the size and called as juveniles. Moulting continues throughout the life.

2) Hemimetabola: (Incomplete metamorphosis) e.g. Dragonfly, damselfly and may fly.


These insects also have three stages in their life namely egg, young one and adult. The
young ones are aquatic and are called as naiads. They are different from adults in habit and
habitat. They breathe by means of tracheal gills. In dragonfly naiad the lower lip (labium) is
called mask which is hinged and provided with hooks for capturing prey. After final moult,
the insects have fully developed wings suited for aerial life.

3) Paurometabola: (Gradual metamorphosis) e.g. Cockroach, grasshopper, bugs.


The young ones are called nymphs. They are terrestrial and resemble the adults in
general body form except the wings and external genitalia. Their compound eyes and mouth
parts are similar to that of adults. Both nymphs and adults share the same habitat. Wing buds
externally appear in later instars. The genitalia development is gradual. Later instar nymphs
closely resemble the adult with successive moults.

4) Holometabola: (Complete metamorphosis) e.g. Butterfly, moth, fly and bees.


These insects have four life stages namely egg, larva, pupa and adult. Majority of insects
undergo complete metamorphosis. Larvae of butterflies are called caterpillar. Larva differs
greatly in form from adult. Compound eyes are absent in larva. Lateral ocelli or stemmata
are the visual organs. Their mouth parts and food habit differ from adults. Wing development
is internal. When the larval growth is completed, it transforms into pupa. During the non-
feeding pupal stage, the larval tissues disintegrate and adult organs are built up.

 Diapause:
Diapause is the period of arrested growth or development in the life cycle of the insects
during which the physiological processes like differentiation and reproduction are suspended.
Diapause may occur in egg, nymph, larva, pupa or adult. It is of two types ̶

1) Obligatory Diapause: e.g. Egg diapause in Silkworm.


It refers to the stage of suspended activity of the insect which is a hereditary character
controlled by genes and is species specific.

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