Insect Metamorphosis Mini-Lesson

Insect Metamorphosis

Click through the slides below to explore how insects change throughout their lives!

  • metamorphosis is the process of an animal changing between life phases

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  • insects use both complete metamorphosis and incomplete metamorphosis

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  • butterfly metamorphosis example

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  • butterfly life cycle phases explained

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  • dragonfly metamorphosis example

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  • dragonfly life cycle phases explained

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  • animals both look different and act different during the different

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  • butterfly life cycle differences during life phases

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Complete and Incomplete Metamorphosis

Amphibians and many species of invertebrates go through a metamorphosis where they change dramatically in their different phases. However, there are some species of insects that go through an INCOMPLETE metamorphosis!



Let's take a look at what that means.

Complete Metamorphosis


  • Has four phases: Egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
  • Change is dramatic between all phases.
  • Insects are very active (and hungry) during their larva phase.
  • The insect is inactive during the pupa phase.
  • Insects cannot reproduce until their adult phase.
black and white striped wasp climbing on small flowers

Examples: Butterfly, moth, wasp, ladybug, ant

Incomplete Metamorphosis


  • Has three phases: Egg, nymph (larva), adult.
  • Change is more gradual.
  • Nymphs look like small versions of the adult.
  • Sometimes, the only difference between the nymph and adult is that adults have wings.
  • Nymphs are active and grow slowly.
  • Insects can reproduce before reaching adulthood.
green and blue grasshopper resting on a green leaf

Examples: Dragonfly, grasshopper, praying mantis, cockroach

Butterfly Metamorphosis


  • Butterflies lay their eggs on the leaves and stems of a host plant! They attach the eggs to the plant using a sticky substance.
  • Some butterfly eggs will hatch in just a few weeks, while others won't hatch until the weather gets warmer.
  • Once the eggs hatch, the baby caterpillar will eat the host plant for nutrients.
  • As a growing caterpillar, they will shed their skin 4-5 times as they outgrow it!
  • Once the caterpillar is fully-grown, it will attach itself to a safe spot and develop a hard shell-like coating called a chrysalis.
  • After a while of developing inside the chrysalis, an adult butterfly will emerge!
  • They must wait for their wings to dry before they can fly off to find nectar.
The Butterfly Life Cycle

Why Is Metamorphosis Beneficial?

Avoid Competition

In their larval phase, animals often live in different habitats and eat different food than the adults, which helps them avoid competition!


For example, caterpillars live on plants and eat their leaves, while adults can move from plant to plant and drink nectar!

Avoid Harsh Climate

Some species are strategic about the time of year they lay eggs to start the metamorphosis process. Many short lived species will lay eggs in the spring when there are lots of resources for offspring.


Some other species, like the yucca moth, stay safe in their chrysalis during the cold winter.

Species Specific

Some insects can speed up or slow down the different phases of their metamorphosis depending on the climate.


Some moths and butterflies will remain in their pupas until spring when flowers start to bloom, while many insect eggs can hatch quicker when temperatures are warm.

Metamorphosis Stages

The circles below represent the order for both complete insect metamorphosis and incomplete metamorphosis.


Using the information you just learned, fill in the circles with the appropriate life cycle phase and identify which pathway represents complete metamorphosis and which represents incomplete metamorphosis!

  • Life Cycle Phase

    EGG


    Eggs are the first stage of an insect's life cycle.

  • Life Cycle Phase

    LARVA


    The second phase of this type of metamorphosis is the larval phase! Caterpillars are an example of an animal in their larval phase. 

  • Life Cycle Phase

    PUPA


    The third stage in this metamorphosis involves the larva changing into an adult inside a protective casing.


  • Life Cycle Phase

    ADULT


    The final phase of insect metamorphosis is the adult phase. This is when they are fully developed and able to reproduce.

  • The path above represents __________________ metamorphosis.

    Complete


  • Life Cycle Phase

    EGG


    Eggs are the first stage of an insect's life cycle.

  • Life Cycle Phase

    LARVA (NYMPH)


    The second phase of this type of metamorphosis is the nymph phase! As nymphs, insects often look like smaller versions of adults. 

  • Life Cycle Phase

    ADULT


    The final step of insect metamorphosis is becoming an adult. For many species, we can tell when they are in their adult phase because they grow wings!

  • The path above represents __________________ metamorphosis.

    Incomplete

Growing Up!

Animals can look very different during the phases of metamorphosis!


Photos 1 through 4 show four animals during different phases of their metamorphosis. Using your best judgement, match each immature animal to its adult form!

dragonfly larva  or nymph sitting on a leaf
  • Answer

    B - Dragonfly!


    Dragonfly nymphs do not have wings and live in water. Some dragonflies can stay in their nymph phase for up to four years!

butterfly chrysalis or pupa hanging from a stem
  • Answer

    D - Butterfly


    The pupa, or chrysalis, shown in this photo will eventually produce a beautiful butterfly!

ladybug pupa attached to a narrow green leaf
  • Answer

    A - Ladybug!


    Like butterflies, ladybugs will change from their larval phase to an adult while in a protective shell.

small green grasshopper nymph resting on a yellow flower
  • Answer

    C - Grasshopper


    Like dragonflies, grasshoppers go through incomplete metamorphosis and look like tiny versions of adults in their nymph phase!

ladybug with wing spread about to take flight from a stem
blue dragonfly clinging to a leaf
a green and black grasshopper resting on a narrow green leaf
an emerald green butterfly with beautiful wings spread

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