Hobbies And Interests
Caterpillars and moths
Caterpillars are the larval stages of butterflies and moths. A caterpillar is basically a feeding tube that must store enough energy for the processes of pupation and turning into a winged insect. Since they, like all larvae, are vulnerable to predation, they rely on camouflage, bristly hairs or frightful appearance to ward off predators.
Predator Larvae
The adult ant lion is a delicate winged insect about 1.4 to 1.6 inches long, but the animal is named for its larva. The ant lion digs a shallow pit in sand and lies in wait at the bottom, entirely covered except for its gaping jaws. If an insect walks into the pit, the sides, made of sand, collapse and the insect falls into the ant lion's jaws. After the ant lion feeds, it disposes of the carcass and rebuilds its trap. The larvae of the dragonfly, called a nymph or a naiad, is also a predator. The larva is aquatic, living in streams. To catch foot, it shoots its hinged jaw and impales its prey, such as an insect, tadpole or small fish. Then the nymph folds back its jaw and begins to eat.
Social insects
The larvae of social insects like ants, wasps and termites are fortunate in that they don't have to forage for themselves. They are completely taken care of by the adult members of the colony. After they pupate and hatch into adults, they join the colony as workers, soldiers or whatever caste they have been born to.
Crustaceans
Crustaceans such as shrimp, crab and lobster emerge from their eggs as pre-larva or pre-zoea. They undergo many molts before they begin to resemble the adult version of their species. Some crustacean larvae are part of the zooplankton and are carried along by ocean currents.
Amphibians
Tadpoles are the larvae of frogs and toads. The only frog that doesn't have free swimming larva are robber or barking frogs. In this case, the tadpole doesn't hatch out of the egg but remains inside until it becomes a miniature frog. After other frogs or toads lay their eggs in or near water, the tadpoles emerge. They have gills, a large head and a tail. They gradually grow limbs, arms and lungs, and they absorb the tail. Newts are salamanders, some species of which live permanently in water. They lay their eggs in water and their larvae, also called tadpoles undergo a metamorphosis like frogs and toads, developing legs and lungs. After this they leave the water as efts. At this phase the newt is red with spots along the sides of its body. It'll stay on land for about three years, and then return to the water.