Insect life cycles: complete metamorphosis
Insect life cycles — complete metamorphosis in detail. Egg → larva → pupa → adult. The larva (caterpillar, grub, maggot) looks completely different from the adult. Inside the pupa the body is rebuilt. Butterflies, beetles, flies, and ladybirds all undergo complete metamorphosis.
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Check understanding
- Name the four stages of complete metamorphosis using the correct terms: egg, larva, pupa, adult
- Explain that the larva stage is when the insect eats and grows, and the pupa stage is when its body transforms
- Give at least two examples of insects that undergo complete metamorphosis such as butterflies and beetles
“Can your child explain the full life cycle of a beetle or butterfly using the proper words — egg, larva, pupa, adult — and tell you what happens at each stage?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Insects & Minibeasts
- Age range
- Ages 7–9