Insect life cycle

INSECT LIFE CYCLE

Metamorphosis in insects:- the process of hatching from the egg varies greatly in the different groups. After hatching , the insect undergoes growth and during this process, it sheds its skin one or more times. This process is known as moulting and ecdysis, where as the skin is termed as euviae. The interval between the ecdysis are known as stage or stadia, while the farm assumed by an insect during a particular stadium is termed by an insect during a particular stadium is termed as instar. When an insect hatches it is said to be in its first instar. At the end of this stage the first moult occurs and the insects then assumes its second instar and so on. The final instar is the fully mature from which is known as the adult. So one of the most characteristics features in insect development is the marked changes in bodily from and transformation of a newly hatched young insect to the adult stage by a process which is known as metamorphosis. In other words , the young insect, after hatching often passes through a series of moults, undergoes marked changes in body from the  transformation from a young ton fully development and growth is known as metamorphosis.

Type of metamorphosis:- All the insects do not undergo the same series of changes. So on the basis of degree of changes in the body form, the order of insects are often divided into three main groups:-

a.   Ametabolous insects.

b.   Hemimetabolous insects.

c.    Hemimetabolous insects.

Ametabolous:- Ametabolous  are primitive , wingless insect very slight changes are brought about during post embryonic development at each moult and moulting continue even after the adult stage is reached .The newly hatched young insect looks like the adult but is of small size and sexually immature eg. Silverfish, springtails.

Hemimetabolous:-  This term is applied to members of the lower order which pass through a simple metamorphosis. It is often described as direct or incomplete metamorphosis. Pupal stage is absent and the immature insects are referred to as nymphs which usually resemble adults in structure and habit eg. Dragon fly, grasshopper, aphids, thrips.

Holometamorphosis :-This term is applied to members of the higher orders which pass through a complex metamorphosis which is accompanied by a pupal instar.  Immature stages of larvae which differ from adult instar and habits. This metamorphosis is often referred to as indirect or complete metamorphosis eg. Butterfly, ant, honeybee etc.