What type of metamorphosis is characterized by distinct larval, pupal, and adult stages?

The type of metamorphosis that is characterized by distinct larval, pupal, and adult stages is complete metamorphosis. This process involves several distinct stages: the egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Each stage looks significantly different from the others, and the changes that occur between each stage are substantial.

In the larval stage, the organism focuses on growth and feeding, often having a different form and behavior compared to the adult stage. During the pupal stage, the larva undergoes transformation, reorganizing into the adult form in a process that can involve significant physiological and morphological changes. The final stage, the adult, typically has the ability to reproduce.

This process is common in many insect groups, such as butterflies, beetles, and bees. The distinction between the stages and the transformation that occurs is what sets complete metamorphosis apart from other types, such as gradual metamorphosis, where the development consists of nymph stages that progressively resemble the adult but do not undergo a pupal stage. Understanding the concept of complete metamorphosis is crucial in pest control as it influences the life cycle management of the insect populations being dealt with.