Insect Life Cycles By: Sarah Morrow

Two Types of Insect Life Cycles Complete metamorphosis Incomplete metamorphosis

Complete Metamorphosis Example of Complete Metamorphosis: Metamorphosis that involves four stages. The four stages being egg, larva, pupa, and adult. This occurs in insects such as butterflies, beetles, flies, and bees. The Butterfly

The Stages of Complete Metamorphosis Stage 1- Egg Stage 3- Pupa Stage 4- Adult Stage 2- Larva (Caterpillar) Size of a pinhead Caterpillars grow inside the egg for 1-2 weeks. When the caterpillar is big enough, it will molt its skin and turn into a chrysalis (Pupa) They stay in the chrysalis for 1-2 weeks Once they have completely formed, they will come out of the chrysalis The adult butterfly will only live for 1-2 weeks Once out of the egg, the caterpillar eats until it sheds its skin Caterpillars will eat for 3-4 weeks

Incomplete Metamorphosis Example of Incomplete Metamorphosis: Metamorphosis that only involves three stages. The three stages being egg, nymph, and adult. This occurs in insects such as grasshoppers, ants, and cockroaches. The Grasshopper

The Stages of Incomplete Metamorphosis Stage 1- Egg Stage 3- Adult Stage 2- Nymph Full grown, takes about 1 month for wings to fully develop Live fully grown about 2 months During this stage they undergo five other stages to become an adult This stage lasts 5-6 weeks Each pod contains 15 to 25 eggs The eggs remain in the pod for 10 months

Complete Metamorphosis Incomplete Metamorphosis