Beetle

Adephaga

Development

Beetles are endopterygotes with complete metamorphosis. The larva of a beetle is often called a grub and represents the principal feeding stage of the life-cycle.

Related Topics:
Endopterygotes - Complete metamorphosis - Larva

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The eggs of beetles are minute but may be brightly coloured, they are laid in clumps and there may be from several dozen to several thousand eggs laid by a single female.

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Once the egg hatches the larvae tend to feed voraciously, whether out in the open such as with Ladybird larvae, or within plants such as with leaf beetle larvae.

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As with lepidoptera, beetle larvae pupate for a period, and from the pupa emerges a fully formed beetle or imago.

Related Topics:
Lepidoptera - Pupa - Imago

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In some cases there are several transitory larvae stages and this is known as hypermetamorphosis; examples include the blister beetles (family Meloidae).

Related Topics:
Hypermetamorphosis - Blister beetle

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