A Seminar Topic on
Metamorphosis in Insects
Submitted by
Guided by Krishna Vamsi Desina
Swetapadma Mohanty [Link] 2nd Year
Roll No: S17317ZOO016
Contents
• Definition
• Complete and Incomplete Metamorphosis
• Types of Metamorphosis
• Criteria of Metamorphosis
• Hormonal Control of Insect Metamorphosis
• Conculison
METAMORPHOSIS
It is the change in growth and
development of an insect undergoes
during its life cycle from birth to
maturity
COMPLETE Metamorphosis
Growth is associated with Larva or Nymph, Differentiation is
associated with Pupa & reproduction is associated with
adults.
Insects under goes Metamorphosis by the process of
Moulting.
Each growth period an insect between two moult is nymph
or naiad or larva and pupa. E.g – bittels, flies, catterpillers.
INCOMPLETE Metamorphosis
In other insects like cockroach and grasshopper the eggs
directly hatch into nymph, there is no pupal and larval
stage.
3 STAGES of INCOMPLETE
METAMORPHOSIS
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BIG IDEA: Nymphs resemble adults.
Egg
A female insect lays eggs. These eggs are
often covered by an egg case which
protects the eggs and holds them together.
Nymph
•The eggs hatch into nymphs.
•Nymphs looks like small adults, but
usually they do not have wings.
•Insect nymphs eat the same food as
adults.
•Nymphs shed or molt their exoskeletons
and replace them with larger ones several
times as they grow.
•Most nymphs molt 4-8 times.
Adult
•The insects stop molting once they reach
their adult size. By this time they have also
grown wings.
4 STAGES of COMPLETE
METAMORPHOSIS
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BIG IDEA: Larva do NOT resemble adult.
Egg
A female insect lays eggs.
Larva(e)
•Larvae hatch from the eggs.
•The larvae do not look like the adults.
•They usually have a worm-like shape.
•Larvae molt their skin several times and
they grow slightly larger.
•Larvae eat A LOT of food.
•Examples of larvae: mealworms, maggots,
caterpillars, grubs
Pupa(e)
•Larvae make cocoons.
•The insects do not eat while in pupae
stage.
•During this stage bodies develop into
adult shapes with wings, legs, internal
organs, etc.
Adult
•The adults emerge from the cocoon.
TYPES OF METAMORPHOSIS
There are four basic types of metamorphosis
in insects.
1) Ametabola (No metamorphosis)
2) Paurometabola (Gradual
metamorphosis)
3) Hemimetabola (Incomplete
metamorphosis)
4) Holometabala (Complete
metamorphosis)
Ametabola (No metamorphosis)
Life stages
Egg young one adult
It is most primitive type of metamorphosis.
The hatching insect resembles the adult
in all respects except for the size.
E.g – Silverfish
Paurometabola (Gradual metamorphosis)
The young ones are called nymphs
They are terrestrial
They resemble the adults in general body form
Their compound eyes and mouth parts are similar to that
of adults
Both nymphs and adults share the same habitat
They lack wings and external genitalia
Life stages
Egg nymph adult
Wing buds externally appear in later instars
The genitalia development is gradual
Later instar nymphs closely resemble the adult
with successive moults
E.g. Cockroach
Hemimetabola (Incomplete metamorphosis)
The young ones are aquatic and are called naiads.
They are different from adults.
They breath by means of tracheal gills.
Their habit and habitat vary.
The lower lip 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
Life stages
Egg naiad adult
e.g. Dragonfly, damselfly and mayfly
Holometabala (Complete metamorphosis)
Majority of insects undergo complete metamorphosis.
Larva of butterfly is 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 bud development is internal
When the larval growth is completed, it is followed by a
period of in activity (prepupa) and transforms into pupa
In the pupal stage, the larval tissues disintegrate and adult
organs are built up
e.g. Butterfly and moth
larva
Egg pupa
adult
Criteria of Metamorphosis
Change of structure
Change in size
Change in habbit
Change in food items
Hormonal Control of Insect Metamorphosis
Conclusion
Metamorphosis plays very
important role in insects. In the
phylum Arthropoda, the insects in
group has an unique features to
change their form by the process
Metamorphosis
