A Seminar Topic on

Metamorphosis in Insects

Submitted by
Guided by Krishna Vamsi Desina
Swetapadma Mohanty B.Sc 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

1.Egg
2.Nymph
3.Adult

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

1.Egg
2.Larva
3.Pupa
4.Adult

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