1) There are two main types of insect young - nymphs of exopterygotes which resemble adults, and larvae of endopterygotes which differ significantly from adults. 2) Larvae can be categorized based on number of legs - oligopod larvae have legs on the thorax, polypod larvae have legs on the thorax and abdomen, and apodous larvae are legless. 3) Pupae can be decticous or adecticous based on presence of mandibles, and exarate, obtect, coarctate or enclosed in a cocoon based on freedom of appendages.

1. Topic- TYPES OF LARVAE
AND PUPAE
Asst. Professor – Mr. Jagmeet Singh
Department of Entomology
University College of Agriculture

2. Nymph vs. Larva
 Young one of exopterygote
insects
 Resemble adults and differs
from the adult with regard to
the wings and genitalia
 Food habits of nymph is same
as adult
 Mouthparts are similar to those
of adults
 Nymph have 3 pairs of thoracic
legs as in adults
 Example - Exopterygote
 Young one of endopterygote
insects
 Differs from adults in
appearance.
 Food habits of larva is totally
different from its adult
 Mouth parts are different from
adults in most cases
 Number of legs in larva are
variable from 0-11 pairs in
various orders, and legs are
present in both thorax and
abdomen
 Example - Endopterygote

3. Types of larvae
1. Oligopod larvae
2. Polypod larvae
3. Apodous larvae

4. 1. Oligopod larvae
• Thoracic legs present, but abdominal legs absent
• Oligopod larvae is hexapodus with well developed head capsule.
• Mouthparts similar to adult with no compound eyes.
• Well developed head capsule and its appendages
Types :- Two types
1. Campodeiform
2. Scarabaeiform

5. Campodeiform larva
 Straight body
 Thoracic legs relatively well developed and long
 Usually active
 Mostly predators
 Examples - Neuroptera, Trichoptera, Coccinellid beetles, Ground
beetles
Larva of Lady bird beetle

6. Scarabaeiform larva
 C shaped body
 Head-Hypognathous
 Thoracic legs relatively reduced, short
 Inactive
 Mostly phytophagous
Ex; Coleoptera
Larva of White grub

7. Elateriform
 Elongate, Cylindrical, smooth and shiny
Larva of click beetle

8. 2.Polypod larvae
 Both thoracic legs as well as abdominal legs present
 Well developed segmentation in thorax and abdomen
 Generally Phytophagous
Types – 3 types
1. Caterpillar
2. Semi- looper
3. Looper
larvae of Lepidoptera

9. Caterpillar
Larva of Cabbage butterfly
 Pro-legs five pairs
 One pair each on 3-6 and 10th abdominal segment

10. Semi-looper
Cotton Semi-looper
 Pro-legs three pairs
 One each on 5th, 6th and 10th abdominal segment

11. Looper
Inchworm
 Pro-legs two pairs
 One each on 6th and 10th abdominal segment

12. 3. Apodous larvae
 Legs absent
 poorly sclerotized.
 Types :- Three types
1. Acephalous
2. Hemicephalous
3. Eucephalous

13. Larva of House fly
Acephalous
 The have a greatly reduced head, completely enclosed into the
thorax.

14. Larva of striped horse fly
Hemicephalous
 The have a reduced head, poorly developed in the posterior portion

15. Eucephalous
 The have a well developed head
Larva of mosquito

16. Pupa is a non feeding and inactive stage of insect between the
larva and adult with complete metamorphosis.
Types based on
A. presence or absence of mandibles
1. Decticous
2. Adecticous
B. Whether the appendages are free or adhere to the body
1. Exarate
2. Obtect
3. Coarctate
4. Cocoon
Pupa

17. 1. Based on presence or
absence of mandibles

18. .
1. Decticous
 Presence of articulated mandibles .
e.g. Lace wing, Scorpion flies

19. 2. Adectious
 Absence of articulated mandibles.
Pupa of lady bird beetle

20. 2. Based on whether the
appendages are free or
adhere to the body

21. 1. Exarate
 The appendages are free and not encapsulated with in a cocoon.
 Decticous pupae are always exarate
Pupa of Honey bee

22. Obtect
 The appendages are close to the body and are commonly
encapsulated with in pupal case .
Pupa of Neem looper

23. Coarctate
 the appendages are not visible.
 The pupa is enclosed in a puparium, formed from the last larval skin.
 This is clearly adecticous exarate pupa.
Pupa of housefly

24. Cocoon
 Obtect pupa enclosed by protective silken or earthen case or cocoon
Cocoon of Silk moth