Jointed legs that are found on the body segments immediately behind the head. Segmented thoracic legs – three pairs of segmented or.Abdomen - eight to 10 body segments immediately following the thorax.These segments may be fused together rather than being separate and distinct. A pair of segmented legs usually is attached to each. Thorax – three segments immediately behind the head.In some larvae, a hard or distinct head may be absent or completely hidden. Head – usually a dark, often hard capsule at front of body.Being able to recognize larval types can tell you a lot about the insect, For example, is it a plant feeder, predator, or a scavenger? Are any management or control practices necessary? This publication is designed to help you to follow a series of choices in a process to recognize the basic type of the insect that you have. Often, insect identification must be based on the larval stage because no adults are present. Fortunately, there are just a few basic larval types and they are relatively easy to recognize. The larva is a specialized feeding stage that looks very different from the adult. Common examples include stink bugs, grasshoppers, and cockroaches.Ībout 75% of all insect species go through the four stages of complete metamorphosis - egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Nymphs generally look much like their adult stage except for being smaller and lacking wings, if the species has winged adults. Gradual metamorphosis has three stages – egg, nymph, and adult. Insects develop from egg to adult in a process called metamorphosis which may be generally classified as either gradual or complete. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture ENTFACT-017: Recognizing Insect Larval Types | Download PDF by Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist

Flat worm vs snail