Larvae vs. Larva — What's the Difference?

Immature stages of insects.

The singular form of larvae.

Multiple entities undergoing transformation.

An insect's immature stage before it becomes an adult.

Distinct from adult insects in behavior and appearance.

The form that undergoes metamorphosis.

Pre-adult forms in metamorphosis.

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.

Often the feeding stage in an insect's life cycle.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Roman Mythology A malevolent spirit of the dead.

Roman Mythology A malevolent spirit of the dead.

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.

An animal in the aforementioned stage.

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

(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

Typically a stage where feeding is vital.

Morphologically different from its mature form.

Yes, a caterpillar is the larva stage of a butterfly or moth.

Larvae provide insights into insect development, behavior, and their role in ecosystems.

It's pronounced as "LAR-vuh."

Most, but not all, insects undergo a larva stage in their life cycle.

"The larvae are developing rapidly in the warm weather."

Primarily, but it can also refer to immature stages in other animals like amphibians.

The plural of larva is larvae.

No, larva is the immature stage preceding the adult form.

No, "larva" is singular, while "larvae" is plural.

Yes, many insect larvae, like mosquito larvae, are aquatic.

In many insects, the pupa stage follows the larva stage, then the adult form.

The larva stage is mainly for feeding and growth before metamorphosis into the adult form.

Not all; while some larvae feed on plants, others have different diets or roles.

Typically, no. Larvae often have different structures and appearances compared to their adult forms.

It varies widely among species and environmental conditions.