Life cycle

Pronunciation: /lahyf sahy-kuhl/

Category: Behavior

Singular: Life cycle

Plural: Life cycles

Definition

The stages through which an insect or arachnid passes from the egg to the adult stage, often involving several developmental phases.

Etymology

From Middle English 'lif', meaning 'life', and from Latin 'cyclus', meaning 'circle' or 'wheel'.

Example

The life cycle of a butterfly includes the stages of egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult.

Synonyms

Developmental stages
Lifecycle

Related Terms

Metamorphosis
Instar
Larva
Pupa
Adult

Usage Notes

Life cycles can vary greatly between species, with some undergoing complete metamorphosis (holometabolism) and others undergoing incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabolism).