Butterflies and moths are examples of animals that go through which type of metamorphosis?

Butterflies and moths are examples of animals that go through which type of metamorphosis?

• A. Butterflies, Moths
• B. Grasshoppers, Crickets
• C. Crabs, Lobsters
• D. Spiders

Answer: (A)

Butterflies and moths undergo complete metamorphosis, also called holometabolism. In this process the life cycle has four distinct stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. The larva and adult look very different because a dramatic reorganization occurs during development, producing a completely different form at the end. This differs from incomplete metamorphosis, seen in grasshoppers and crickets, where the young (nymphs) look like smaller versions of the adults and there is no pupal stage. Spiders and many crustaceans don’t follow this insect metamorphosis pattern in the same way, either, as their development lacks a true insect-like pupal transformation.

Butterflies and moths undergo complete metamorphosis, also called holometabolism. In this process the life cycle has four distinct stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. The larva and adult look very different because a dramatic reorganization occurs during development, producing a completely different form at the end.

This differs from incomplete metamorphosis, seen in grasshoppers and crickets, where the young (nymphs) look like smaller versions of the adults and there is no pupal stage. Spiders and many crustaceans don’t follow this insect metamorphosis pattern in the same way, either, as their development lacks a true insect-like pupal transformation.