Larva
The title of this article is ambiguous. For other meanings, see Larva (disambiguation).
Larva (from Latin larva Pl. larvae) in zoology refers to an intermediate form in the development from egg to adult stage. It occurs in animals undergoing metamorphosis. Originally, larva referred to a mask or ghost.
The best-known animal groups with a larval stage are insects and amphibians. The larvae of frogs are called tadpoles; the larval stage of tapeworms is called fins. Examples of larvae in insects are maggots or caterpillars. Many egg-laying fish also have one or more larval stages. The designation of different larval stages is often abbreviated as L1, L2, etc. Larvae look completely different from the adult and often have a completely different way of life. For example, the larvae of mosquitoes or dragonflies live in water, while the adult insect (imago) lives on land. If the young animals have no larval characteristics of their own, they are called nymphs.
The larval period need not always be only a short transitional phase; it may well account for most of an animal's life. For example, the cockchafer lives two to five years as a larva (grub), and only a few weeks as an adult beetle. The situation is extreme for mayflies. After the transformation to the imago, some species live only a few hours. Furthermore, there are species in which the larvae already become sexually mature and never undergo metamorphosis (so-called neoteny), for example the Mexican axolotl newt.
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Rat-tailed larva (Eristaliini) and tadpole (Tadpoles).
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Larva of the large black beetle (Zophobas morio)
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Larva of a stonefly (Plecoptera)
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Larva (= tadpole) of the tree frog (Hyla arborea)
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freshly hatched fish larva of an Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
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Larva of a greenhouse whitefly photographed with a light microscope
Larva of a blue green damselfly
See also
- Larvicide
Questions and Answers
Q: What is a larva?
A: A larva is a separate life stage from the adult reproductive stage that develops from the egg in certain animals.
Q: Does a larva look like the adult animal?
A: No, it does not. A larva goes through metamorphosis and changes shape as it grows up.
Q: What are some examples of animals that have a larval stage?
A: Tadpoles, maggots, and caterpillars are some examples of animals that have a larval stage.
Q: How many larval stages can an animal go through before becoming an adult?
A: An animal can go through several larval stages before it reaches its adult form.
Q: What is the difference between the larval stage and the adult reproductive stage in animals?
A: The larval stage is a separate life stage from the adult reproductive stage, and the two stages look different and have distinct characteristics.
Q: What is the significance of releasing large numbers of eggs and sperms into the water column for marine organisms with a larval stage?
A: Marine organisms with a larval stage may release large numbers of eggs and sperms into the water column to increase their chances of fertilization and successful development.
Q: What is a pelagic larval stage or pelagic eggs?
A: A pelagic larval stage or pelagic eggs refer to the development of larvae in the plankton and their ability to be transported over long distances. It is a common characteristic of most marine invertebrates and many fish.
