Baby Insects

With young children, one good way to introduce the concept of metamorphosis is to begin by asking them about the names for baby animals.

"What do we call a baby dog?" ... a puppy
"What do we call a baby cat?" ... a kitten
"What do we call a baby cow?" ... a calf
...
"What do we call a baby bear?" ... a cub
and finally,
"What do we call a baby insect?"

The answer to this final question depends on the type of development ...

  • In ametabolous insects, the immatures are called young.

  • In hemimetabolous insects, the immatures are called nymphs.
    (A naiad is an aquatic nymph.)

  • In holometabolous insects, the immatures are called larvae and pupae.
    (Caterpillars, maggots, wireworms, and grubs are types of larvae.)

    • You can purchase a set of 24 color images that show immature insects and the corresponding adult stage for each of 12 different species. These images are available as 2x2 slides or as computer files on a floppy disk in jpeg format. Contact Vision Press at P.O. Box 5554, Raleigh, NC 27650-5554. The cost is $40.00 per set plus $3.00 s/h.

    Sample Slides:

    Bess Beetle

    Larva

    Adult

    Butterfly

    Larva

    Adult

    Dragonfly

    Naiad

    Adult

    And finally, here's a little TEST for all you "know-it-alls" out there in cyberspace ...

    Know any others? ... e-mail me at john_meyer@ncsu.edu