Life cycle of an insect can be complete or incomplete which posses different stages in the biology. If it is complete metamorphosis, it consists of egg, larvae, pupa and adult or incomplete metamorphosis with egg, nymph and adult. In the case of insects with complete development show complete metamorphosis with all immature stages that vary in size, shape and form or structure i.e., egg larvae and pupae differing each individually. Hence, different types of egg, larvae and pupae are described in this PPT (Basic Classification)

1. Good
after
noon

2. M.RAMAIAH
RAM/16-39

6. OUTLINE
Egg morphology
Types of eggs (A)singly laid eggs
(B)Eggs laid in groups
Types of larvae
Types of pupae
Some other examples of immature stages in insects
conclusion

7. Types of eggs
Singly laid eggs:
1. Sculptured egg
2. Elongated egg
3. Rounded egg
4. Nit
5. Egg with float
Eggs laid in groups
1. Pedicellate eggs
2. Barrel shaped eggs
3. Ootheca
4. Egg pod
5. Egg case
6. Egg mass

8. EGG MORPHOLOGY
The egg is the first stage of development in which a series of
changes occurs before the hatching of the larvae, since the embryos
contain cells and developmental programs for larval structures.
A typical egg has the following external characteristics.
 Chorion: outer covering of the egg;
 Micropyle: a pore at the anterior end of the egg that permits
entrance of the spermatozoa;
 Plastron: a cell membrane inside and next to the chorion and
surrounding the cytoplasm;
 Hatching line: a longitudinal strip that splits off to let the larva
emerge.

10. Types of eggs
a)Singly laid eggs;
1.Sculptured egg:
 Chorion with reticulate markings
and ridges.
Eg; castor butterfly.
(Ergolis merione)

11. 2. Elongated egg:
Eggs are cigar shaped.
Eg; Sorghum shootfly,Ear head bug,
Dusky cotton bugs and
Epilachna beetle.
Shoot fly

12. 3.Rouded egg:
Eggs are may be spherical or globular.
American bollwormCitrus butterfly

13. 4.Nit :
Egg of head louse called “nit”.
It is cemented to the base of hair.
There is a egg stigma at the
posteior
ends, which assist its
attachment.
At the anterior end, there is an
oval lid which is lifted at the
time of hatching.

15. 5.Egg with float:
• Egg is boat shaped with a
conspicuous floaton either
side.
• The lateral sides are expanded
which act as float.
Anopheles Mosquitoe

16. B).Eggs laid in groups;
1.Pedicellate eggs:
• Eggs are laid in silken stalks of about 1.25mm in length in one
groups on plant. Ex.Green lace wing

17. 2.Barrel shaped egg:
• They look like miniature batteries.
• They are deposited in compactly arranged mass.

18. 3.ootheca
:
• Eggs are deposited by cockroch
in a brown bean like chitinous
capsule.
• Each ootheca consists of a
double layered wrapper
protecting two parallel rows of
eggs.
• Each ootheca has 16 eggs
arranged in two rows.
• Chitinous egg case is prodused
out of the secretions of
collateral glands.
cockroach

19. 4.Egg pod:
• Grass hopper secreate a frothy material that encases an egg
mass which is deposited on the ground.
• On the top of egg a frothy substance hardens to form a plug
which prevent the drying of the egg.

20. 5.Egg case:
• Mantids deposit their eggs on twigs in a foamy secretion
called”SPUMALINE”.
• Inside the egg case , eggs are aligned in rows in the egg chambers.

21. 6. Egg mass:
• Moths lay eggs in groups in a mass of its body hairs.
• Anal tuft of hairs found at the end of abdomen is mainly used for this
purpose.
Spodoptera egg mass
Paddy stem borer
RHCP

22. • Female silk worm moth lay the eggs on card.
• Each egg card called “DFLs”(disease free layings).

24. 7. Egg raft:
The eggs are laid in water as a compact mass consisting of 200-300
eggs called”egg raft”.
Culex mosquito

26. Types of larvae
1. Protopod larvae
2. Oligopod larvae (a)scarabaieform larvae
(b)compodeiform larvae
3. Polypod larvae/Eruciform larvae
a) Hairy caterpillar
b) Slug caterpillar
c) Sphingidae larvae
d) Semi looper
e) looper
4. Apodous larvae
a) Eucephalous
b) Hemicephalous
c) Acephalous

27. Types of larvae
I. Protopod larvae
• The larva emerge (hatch)from egg which is still in an early
embryonic phase as the egg contain less yolk material.
• The larvae are partially developed.
• They possess well developed head and thoracic segments but
lack segmentation in the abdomen..

28. • They possess rudimentary cephalic and thoracic appendages
but no abdominal appendages.
• They have partially developed digestive system and
• underdeveloped respiratory and nervous systems
• Eg; Grubs of parasitic hymenoptera.

29. 2. Oligopod larvae
• Thoracic legs are well developed.
• Abdomen legs are absent.
There are two subtypes.
1. Campodeiform larvae
2. Scarabaeiform larvae

30. Difference between campodeiform & scarcbaeiformDifference between campodeiform & scarcbaeiform

31. Ladybird beetle Rhinocerus beetle

33. 3. Polypod larvae
• The body consists of an large sclerotised head capsule.
• 3 pairs of thoracic legs and 2-5 pairs of abdominal legs/
prolegs/pseudo legs.
• Thoracic legs are segmented and ends with claws.
• Planta and crochets/spines- abdominal legs.
• Abdominal segments 3-6 and last typically bear prolegs.
• Eg; Cater pillar(larvae of moth and butterflies.

35. a)Hairy caterpillar
• The body hairs may be dense, sparse or arranged in tufts.
• Hairs may cause irritation, when touched.
• Eg; Red hairy caterpillar,
Bihary hairy caterpillar.

37. b)Slug caterpillar
• Larvae head is small and retractile.
• Thoracic legs are minute and abdominal legs are absent.
• Larvae have poisonous spines –scoli.(platyform larvae)
• Eg; Castor slug caterpillar.
Coconut slug caterpillar.

38. Slug caterpillar

39. c). Sphingid larvae
• The larvae consists of an horn or hoor on the 8th abdominal
segment.
• Eg; Gingelly death head moth.

40. D) semilooper
• Prolegs of 3rd and 4th abdominal segments are reduced.
• Eg; Castor semilooper, Citrus fruit sucking moth.

42. Fruit sucking moths

43. e). Looper
Measuring worms/ earth measures/ inchworms.
Only two pairs of prolegs are present in 6th and last abdominal
segments.
Eg; Daicha looper.
Mango looper.

44. LOOPER
Cabbage looper Mango looper

45. 4. Apodous larvae
• These are characterized by the absence of locomotary
appendages or legs.
• Based on the degree of development of the head capsule and
its appendages.
• There three subtypes
a)Eucephalous type
b)Hemicephalous type
c)Acephalous type

46. a)Eucephalous type
• Larvae with well developewd head capsule with functional
mandibles.
• Mandibles act transversely.
Eg; larvae of mosquito(wriggler).
larvae of red palm weevil.

47. Red palm weevil

48. Mosquitoe larvae

49. b). Hemicephalous type
• Head capsule is reduced.
• Mandibles act vertically.
• Eg; Brachycera of diptera.

50. c)Acephalous type
• Head capsule is absent.
• Also called as vermiform larvae.
• Eg; Maggots(larvae of house fly).

51. Types of pupae
It is resting, inactive stage of the holometabolous insects
and transitional phase during which the wings are developed
and the insect attain matured sexual organs.
The pupa is incapable of feeding, locomotion except in
some cases where they crawl (Neuroptera) (Aphid lion), swim
e.g.: mosquitoes.
.

52. Types of pupae
I. Based on presence or absence of powerful mandibles.
1.Decticous pupae
2.Adecticous pupae
II. Based on shape or attachment of appendages
1. Obtect pupae (a). Chysalis pupae
(b). Tumbler type
2. Exarate pupae
3. Coarctate

53. I. Based on the presence or absence of powerful
mandibles
Distichous pupae
• Possess relatively powerful
mandibles which are used
for escaping of the adult
from the cocoon i.e. to break
the cocoon.
eg; Neuroptera and
coleoptera
Adecticous pupae
• Do not possess the mandibles
but with the help of other
appendages, adults escape from
the cocoon
eg:Lepidoptera and Diptera.

54. a)Obtect type
• The pupae have appendages which are firmly pressed against the
body and the pupa is highly chitinized.
Eg; moth pupa.
Helicoverpa armigera
Spodoptera litura

55. Citrus butter fly

56. Chrysalis pupae
• Naked pupa of butterfly.
• Also called nympha.
• Cremaster and gridle.

57. Tumbler pupa
• Pupa of mosquito.
• Comma shaped pupa.
• Abdomen is capable of
jerky movements by anal
paddles.
• Very active pupa.

58. Exarate pupa
• Appendages are not glued to the body.
• All oligopod larvae turn in to exarate pupae.
Eg ; Coleoptera, Hymenoptera.

59. Coarctate pupa
• The last larval skin is changed in
to a pupal case.
• Pupa is actually an exarate type.
• Pupal case is dark, brown, barrel shaped, smooth with no apparent
appendages.
Eg; Housefly.

60. Shoot fly

61. Nut weevil Rhinocerus Beetle

63. Types of eggs
Singly laid eggs:
1. Sculptured egg
2. Elongated egg
3. Rounded egg
4. Nit
5. Egg with float
Eggs laid in groups
1. Pedicellate eggs
2. Barrel shaped eggs
3. Ootheca
4. Egg pod
5. Egg case
6. Egg mass

64. Types of larvae
1. Protopod larvae
2. Oligopod larvae (a)scarabaieform larvae
(b)compodeiform larvae
3. Polypod larvae/Eruciform larvae
a) Hairy caterpillar
b) Slug caterpillar
c) Sphingidae larvae
d) Semi looper
e) looper
4. Apodous larvae
a) Eucephalous
b) Hemicephalous
c) Acephalous

65. Types of pupae
I. Based on presence or absence of powerful mandibles.
1.Decticous pupae
2.Adecticous pupae
II. Based on shape or attachment of appendages
1. Obtect pupae (a). Chysalis pupae
(b). Tumbler type
2. Exarate pupae
3. Coarctate

66. Life cycle of lady bird beetle

67. Some other immature stages
Planidium larvae
• Flat headed borer
• Platyform larvae
• Triungulin larvae
• Hellgrammites
• Naiads
• Flax seed stage
• Onisciform larvae
• Rugose or spinose

68. Round headed borersFlat headed borers

69. BLUE BUTTERFLY

70. Wire worm Round headed borer

71. Lady bird beetle

72. Damsel fly

73. Alder fly

74. Life cycle of Blister beetle

75. Hessian fly

76. Conclusion
•Parental care by female insects.
•We can identify the insect.
•We can know the weakest stage of insect.
•To develop IPM practices for pest control at any
each stage.

77. References
• Charles .A. Triplehorn and Norman.S. johnson, Introduction to
the study of insects. Publisher;peter marshal.
• T.V.Prasad. Hand book of entomology.
• K.Phani kumar and C.P viji. Entomology refresher.
• K. N.Rugumoorthi, M.R.Srinivasan. Insecta.