Hobbies And Interests
Eggs
Every insect begins life as an egg. For most insect species, the development process is unique from other creatures and includes a stage called metamorphosis. Once a female insect produces an egg, it is fertilized. Fertilization varies across species of insects. Although some insects require opposite-sex fertilization, some species produce eggs that do not require fertilization. Regardless of the species and its reproduction methods, an egg develops into a larva.
Larva and Pupa
Once the shell of an egg cracks open, the insect inside will be in larva form. A larva is wormlike, but will vary in appearance across various species, from long, flat and active to wire-like. Many are moist and round. The larva stage allows the insect to grow outside of the shell of the egg. As a larva grows it moves toward its pupa state. As a pupa, its movement and growth stops. In some cases, the pupa will be encased in a cocoon, as in butterflies.
Metamorphosis
The final stage of insect development is called metamorphosis. The most popular version of this is a butterfly emerging from its cocoon in all its colorful glory. Most insects appear out of their pupa phase as fully-formed adults, even if they aren't considered beautiful. Some insects have short or "hyper" metamorphosis that can happen as quickly as overnight. Others remain in cocoons for days or weeks. Some insects will require further development after metamorphosis. In these cases they will shed their skins or shells a few more times before reaching adult maturity. Adult insects are called "imago."
Egg to Adult
Some insects, such as cockroaches, hatch from eggs as miniature versions of their adult form. In these species, there is no larva to pupa to metamorphosis process. The creature will begin to mature as soon as its egg shell cracks open. It matures through at least one phase where it grows to the capacity of its shell, then sheds its existing shell or skin. The insect then has another growth cycle and another shell forms over its maturing body.
Life Span
Some insects that live in wooded areas have a lifespan of one year. This life cycle is based on the seasonal changes of the area. These insects are dependent on new foliage for the larval stage of their development. Other insects have multiple generations in a single year. Across the many species of insects, a lifespan can be as short as a few weeks, as with a common fly, whereas some cicada have a 17 year reproductive cycle and live for many seasons before reproducing.