Young insect

Pronunciation
/yuhng IN-sekt/
Category
Life Cycle
Singular
Young insect
Plural
Young insects

Definition

An immature stage of an insect's life cycle, typically prior to reaching adulthood; this can be in various forms such as larvae, nymphs, or naiads.

Etymology

Derived from Old English 'geong' meaning young and Latin 'insectum' meaning cut into pieces, referencing the segmented body of an insect.

Example

The young insect, in its larval stage, spends most of its time eating to prepare for metamorphosis.

Synonyms

Related Terms

Usage Notes

The term 'young insect' broadly covers different immature stages, depending on the type of insect and its specific developmental pathway.