A Larva is a juvenile, but independent form of an animal that looks completely different from its adult form.


A larva develops the adult shape by metamorphosis and in many insects the change takes place in a resting stage called a pupa.


Larva often have special organs which do not occur in the adult form, for example tadpoles have gills and a tail which they lose when they metamorphose into a frog or toad.


The larvae of different species have different names. Some common ones include:

Animal                                          Larva
Amphibians                                  Tadpole
Butterflies & moths                      Caterpillar
Flies                                              Maggot
Beetles, bees & wasps               Grub
Dragonflies & Damselflies          Nymph
Grasshoppers, true bugs            Nymph


Associated Terms: Larvae, Larval


Also see:
Nymph
Prepupa
Pupa
Chrysalis
Cocoon
Metamorphosis