What is the order of stages in an insect's complete life cycle?

The correct sequence for an insect's complete life cycle is egg, larvae, pupa, and adult. This process is known as complete metamorphosis, which involves four distinct stages.

In the first stage, the egg is laid, typically in an environment suitable for the hatching of the young. Upon hatching, the larvae emerge; this stage often involves significant growth and feeding as the larvae typically consume a great deal of food to prepare for the next stage. Following the larvae stage, insects usually enter the pupa stage, where they undergo a transformation. This developmental phase is crucial as the organism undergoes significant internal and external changes, transforming from a larvae to its adult form. Finally, the adult stage emerges from the pupa, ready to reproduce and continue the cycle.

This life cycle pattern is characteristic of many insects including butterflies, beetles, and bees, providing them with various advantages such as specialized forms of the larvae and adult stages that can exploit different ecological niches.