a young wingless often wormlike form (as a grub or caterpillar) that hatches from the egg of many insects
the larva looked ugly, but it was destined to hatch into a beautiful butterfly
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Recent Examples of larvaBristly rose slug The bristly rose slug is the most common rose slug in California and is the larva of a sawfly.—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025 Obligate diapause solves this by ensuring that the whole population goes dormant just before pupation, the final transformation from larva to adult.—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2025 In its first winter, the larva enters a quiescent state, pausing its development until conditions improve.—Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025 The way the toxin gains entry is by activation of Bt’s chitinase which degrades the chitin lining a larva’s digestive tract.—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for larva
Recent Examples of Synonyms for larva
nymph
Noun
The babies, called nymphs, hatch from these eggs after six weeks and fall to the ground.
—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
29 May 2025
Early instar nymphs are black in color with white spots; fourth instar nymphs are red with black and white spots.
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