Life Cycles
Complete Metamorphosis
An insect that goes through complete metamorphosis is the monarch butterfly. It goes through four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larva spends most of its time eating. When it reaches the pupa stage it is protected by a chamber called a chrysalis. It is an adult as when it emerges from the chrysalis. |
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Incomplete Metamorphosis Insects that go through incomplete metamorphosis include the cicada and dragonfly. They go through three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The nymph looks similar to the adult and goes through many molts or changes before it reaches the adult stage. |
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