larva

Everyday

The young form of an insect (and some other animals, like frogs and fish) after it hatches from the egg and before it changes into an adult; it often looks like a worm, such as a caterpillar or a maggot. tree →

In the lessons

In science: life cycles — egg, larva, pupa, adult — this is complete metamorphosis (butterflies, beetles, flies). Caterpillars are butterfly larvae; maggots are fly larvae; tadpoles are sometimes called frog larvae. Phrases: «insect larvae», «mosquito larvae», «the larva stage».

Examples

• A caterpillar is the larva of a butterfly. tree →
• The larva hatched from a tiny egg. tree →
• Mosquito larvae live in still water. tree →
• The larva eats and grows before it becomes a pupa. tree →
• Maggots are the larvae of flies. tree →
• We drew the life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult. tree →
• Ladybird larvae look like tiny spiky crocodiles. tree →

Note

Plural: larvae (said LAR-vee), from Latin; «larvas» is rare. Adjective: larval. Do not confuse with «lava» (hot melted rock from a volcano).