What type of metamorphosis do beetles undergo?

Beetles undergo complete metamorphosis, which involves four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. This process is characteristic of insects in the order Coleoptera, which includes all beetles.

In the first stage, the life cycle begins with the egg, which hatches into the larval stage. The larvae are often quite different in appearance and behavior compared to adults and are focused on feeding and growing. After reaching a certain size, larvae enter the pupal stage, where they undergo significant transformation. During pupation, the insect re-organizes its body structure, ultimately resulting in the adult form that we recognize as a beetle.

This complete cycle allows for a more significant transformation compared to incomplete metamorphosis, which involves only three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. In incomplete metamorphosis, the nymph generally resembles a smaller version of the adult and does not go through a pupal stage. Since beetles exhibit the characteristic stages of complete metamorphosis, understanding this developmental process is essential for pest control professionals, as it influences both the pests’ behavior and the appropriate management strategies to employ.