Imago vs. Larva — What's the Difference?

In biology, the imago (Latin for "image") is the last stage an insect attains during its metamorphosis, its process of growth and development; it is also called the imaginal stage, the stage in which the insect attains maturity. It follows the final ecdysis of the immature instars.In a member of the Ametabola or Hemimetabola, in which metamorphosis is "incomplete", the final ecdysis follows the last immature or nymphal stage.

A larva (plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle.

An insect in its sexually mature adult stage after metamorphosis.

The newly hatched, wingless, often wormlike form of many insects, developing into a pupa in species that undergo complete metamorphosis.

(Psychology) An often idealized image of a person, usually a parent, formed in childhood and persisting unconsciously into adulthood.

The six-legged immature form of a tick or mite.

(entomology) The final developmental stage of an insect after undergoing metamorphosis.

The newly hatched, earliest form of any of various animals that undergo metamorphosis, differing markedly in appearance from the adult.

(psychology) An idealised concept of a loved one, formed in childhood and retained unconsciously into adult life, the basis for the psychological formation of personality archetypes.

Roman Mythology A malevolent spirit of the dead.

An image.

An early stage of growth for some insects and amphibians, in which after hatching from their egg, insects are wingless and resemble a caterpillar or grub, and amphibians lack limbs and resemble fish.

The final adult, and usually winged, state of an insect. See Illust. of Ant-lion, and Army worm.

An animal in the aforementioned stage.

(psychoanalysis) an idealized image of someone (usually a parent) formed in childhood

A form of a recently born or hatched animal that is quite different from its adult stage.

An adult insect produced after metamorphosis

(figurative) A preliminary stage of someone or something, before it has fully matured, especially a time of growth rather than one of performance.

Any young insect from the time that it hatches from the egg until it becomes a pupa, or chrysalis. During this time it usually molts several times, and may change its form or color each time. The larvæ of many insects are much like the adults in form and habits, but have no trace of wings, the rudimentary wings appearing only in the pupa stage. In other groups of insects the larvæ are totally unlike the parents in structure and habits, and are called caterpillars, grubs, maggots, etc.

The early, immature form of any animal when more or less of a metamorphosis takes place, before the assumption of the mature shape.

The immature free-living form of most invertebrates and amphibians and fish which at hatching from the egg is fundamentally unlike its parent and must metamorphose