Larva

A larva (/ˈlɑːrvə/; plural larvae /ˈlɑːrviː/) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo

before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such
as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle.
The larva's appearance is generally very different from the adult form
(e.g. caterpillars and butterflies) including different unique structures and organs that do not
occur in the adult form. Their diet may also be considerably different.
Larvae are frequently adapted to different environments than adults. For example, some larvae
such as tadpoles live almost exclusively in aquatic environments, but can live outside water as
adult frogs. By living in a distinct environment, larvae may be given shelter from predators and
reduce competition for resources with the adult population.
Animals in the larval stage will consume food to fuel their transition into the adult form. In some
organisms like polychaetes and barnacles, adults are immobile but their larvae are mobile, and
use their mobile larval form to distribute themselves.[1][2]
Some larvae are dependent on adults to feed them. In many eusocial Hymenoptera species, the
larvae are fed by female workers. In Ropalidia marginata (a paper wasp) the males are also
capable of feeding larvae but they are much less efficient, spending more time and getting less
food to the larvae.[3]
The larvae of some organisms (for example, some newts) can become pubescent and do not
develop further into the adult form. This is a type of neoteny.[4]

Eurosta solidaginis Goldenrod Gall Fly larva

It is a misunderstanding that the larval form always reflects the group's evolutionary history. This
could be the case, but often the larval stage has evolved secondarily, as in insects.[5][6] In these
cases the larval form may differ more than the adult form from the group's common origin.[7]

Contents

 1Selected types of larvae

 2Insect larvae

 3See also

 4References

 5External links
  6Bibliography

Selected types of larvae[edit]

Animal Name of larvae

coeloblastula (= blastula, amphiblastula), parenchymula

Porifera (sponges)
(= parenchymella, stereogastrula)

Heterocyemida Wagener's larva

Dicyemida infusoriform larva

Cnidarians planula (= stereogastrula), actinula

Ctenophora cydippid larvae

Turbellaria: Müller's larva, Götte’s larva;

Trematoda: miracidium, sporocyst, redia, cercaria;
Platyhelminthes Monogenea: oncomiracidium;
Cestoda: cysticercus, cysticercoid, oncosphere (or hexa
canth), coracidium, plerocercoid

Annelida nectochaete, polytroch

Nematoda Dauer larva, microfilaria

Sipuncula pelagosphera larva

Ectoprocta cyphonautes, vesiculariform larvae

Nematomorpha nematomorphan larva

Phoronids actinotroch

Cycliophora pandora, chordoid larva

 Animal Name of larvae

Nemertea pilidium, Iwata larva, Desor larva

Acanthocephala acanthor

Locifera Higgins larva

Brachiopoda lobate larva

Priapula loricate larva

Certain molluscs, annelids, nemerte
trochophore
ans and sipunculids

Certain molluscs veliger

Mollusca:
glochidium
freshwater Bivalvia (mussels)

protaspis (unjointed), meraspis (increasing number of

Arthropoda: †Trilobita
joints, but 1 less than the holaspis), holaspis (=adult)[8]

Arthropoda: Xiphosura euproöps larva ("trilobite larva")

Arthropoda: Pycnogonida protonymphon

General: nauplius, metanauplius, protozoea, antizoea,

pseudozoea, zoea, postlarva, cypris, primary larva,
Crustaceans mysis
Decapoda: zoea
Rhizocephala: kentrogon
 Animal Name of larvae

Insecta: Lepidoptera (butterflies and
caterpillar
moths)

Insecta: Beetles grub

Insecta: Flies, Bees, Wasps maggot

Insecta: Mosquitoes wriggler

Deuterostomes dipleurula (hypothetical larva)

bipinnaria, vitellaria, brachiollaria, pluteus, ophiopluteus,

Echinodermata
echinopluteus, auricularia

Hemichordata tornaria

tadpole (does not feed, technically a "swimming

Urochordata
embryo")

Fish (generally) Ichthyoplankton

Fish: Petromyzontiformes (lamprey) ammocoete

Fish: Anguilliformes (eels) leptocephalus

Amphibians tadpole, polliwog

Insect larvae[edit]

The larvae of the Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) are among the largest of any species of insect

Campodeiform larva of Micromus sp.

Within Insects, only Endopterygotes show complete metamorphosis, including a distinct larval

stage.[9][10] Several classifications have been suggested by many entomologists,[11][12] and following
classification is based on Antonio Berlese classification in 1913. There are four main types of
endopterygote larvae types:[13][14]

1. Apodous larvae – no legs at all and are poorly sclerotized. Based

on sclerotization. All Apocrita are apodous. Three apodous forms are
recognized.
o Eucephalous – with well sclerotized head capsule. Found
in Nematocera, Buprestidae and Cerambycidae families.
o Hemicephalus – with a reduced head capsule, retractable in to the
thorax. Found in Tipulidae and Brachycera families.
o Acephalus – without head capsule. Found in Cyclorrhapha
2. Protopod larvae – larva have many different forms and often unlike a normal
insect form. They hatch from eggs which contain very little yolk. E.g.
first instar larvae of parasitic hymenoptera.
3. Polypod larvae – also known as eruciform larvae, these larvae have
abdominal prolegs, in addition to usual thoracic legs. They are poorly sclerotized
and relatively inactive. They live in close contact with their food. Best example
is caterpillars of lepidopterans.
4. Oligopod larvae – have well developed head capsule and mouthparts are
similar to the adult, but without compound eyes. They have six legs. No
abdominal prolegs. Two types can be seen:
o Campodeiform – well sclerotized, dorso-ventrally flattened body.
Usually long legged predators with prognathous mouthparts.
(lacewing, trichopterans, mayflies and some coleopterans).
o Scarabeiform – poorly sclerotized, flat thorax and abdomen. Usually
short legged and inactive burrowing forms. (Scarabaeoidea and
other coleopterans).