Which of the following groups of insects undergoes complete metamorphosis?

Complete metamorphosis is a developmental process that includes four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. This cycle allows for significant changes in form and function as the organism develops.

The correct answer, which includes butterflies and moths, is accurate because both of these insects belong to the order Lepidoptera and undergo complete metamorphosis. After hatching from eggs, they first exist as larvae (caterpillars), then enter a pupal stage (chrysalis) where they undergo transformation before emerging as adult butterflies or moths, showcasing a significant change in their morphology and lifestyle.

In contrast, other groups mentioned do not undergo this complete transformation. Beetles and ants, while they do experience metamorphosis, fall under the same category as butterflies and moths with complete metamorphosis, but the question focuses on the specific transformation associated with the correct answer. Cave crickets and head lice, on the other hand, undergo gradual metamorphosis, resulting in nymphs that resemble miniature adults without a distinct pupal stage. Similarly, grasshoppers and cockroaches also undergo incomplete metamorphosis, where young nymphs develop into adults without a pupal stage. Thus, the best representation of