Coarctate larva
- Pronunciation
- /KO-ark-tāt lahr-vuh/
- Category
- Development
- Singular
- Coarctate larva
- Plural
- Coarctate larvae
Definition
A type of larval insect found within a hardened case or puparium, where the larva undergoes metamorphosis.
Etymology
From Latin 'coarctatus', meaning 'contracted' or 'narrowed'.
Example
The coarctate larva of many flies, such as those in the family Tachinidae, develop inside a hardened puparium.
Related Terms
- Insect development
- Puparium
Usage Notes
Coarctate larvae are characteristic of certain Diptera (true flies) and undergo metamorphosis within a protective shell.