What type of metamorphosis do silverfish undergo?

Silverfish undergo a type of development known as "ametabolous metamorphosis," which means they do not undergo true metamorphosis. Instead of having distinct life stages such as larvae, pupae, and adults, silverfish are hatched from eggs as small versions of adults and continue to grow and molt multiple times until they reach maturity.

In this process, there is no transformation into a pupa or a change in body structure like that seen in insects with complete or gradual metamorphosis. Silverfish exhibit a straightforward growth pattern, which aligns with the characteristics of ametabolous insects. As they mature, they may change slightly in size and coloration, but they retain their general form throughout their life cycle.

Understanding this unique development process helps clarify the differences between various insect life cycles, highlighting how some insects, like silverfish, have a simpler and more linear growth progression compared to those that do undergo metamorphosis.