MetamorphosisHereditary and Reproduction

Meghann Bryant

Is the development after hatching of insects or animals from an immature stage to an adult stage. Insects can go through complete metamorphosis or incomplete metamorphosis depending on the species of insect.

METAMORPHOSIS

Complete Metamorphosis Complete metamorphosis of an insect consists of an adult insect laying eggs. The eggs hatch to form a larva. The larva form molts and continues to grow as it develops into the next stage of metamorphosis.

Pupae developmentAs the larva molts it can form a cocoon or protective structure. The final stage is formed in the pupae stage of development. When the pupae hatches from the cocoon the final stage of metamorphosis has begun and the insect is an adult.

Incomplete Metamorphosis

Dragonflies are insects that have an incomplete metamorphosis. The adult Dragonfly lays eggs near the water such as a pond or stream and a nymph hatches from the eggs. The Nymph stage can last up to 2 years depending on the species.

Nymph StageAs the Nymph grows it sheds its skin up to 60 times and grows slightly with each shed. When the Nymph is ready to progress to the next stage of metamorphosis the Nymph will crawl out on a blade of grass and shed its skin one last time and become a dragonfly. The newly developed dragonfly will wait until its wings have dried before flying away and eating mosquitos.

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Amphibian MetamorphosisAdult amphibians lay eggs in the water such as a pond or stream. When the eggs hatch they are tadpoles and as they complete metamorphosis they grow from the water into a land amphibian.

Tadpole Development

Metamorphosis To summarize, metamorphosis is the

development after hatching of insects or animals from an immature stage to an adult stage.

Incomplete metamorphosis is egg to nymph to adult.

Complete metamorphosis is egg to larva to pupae to adult.

Amphibian metamorphosis is egg to tadpole to tadpole with legs to young frog to adult

Benchmark Compare and contrast the major stages

in the life cycles of Florida plants and animals, such as those that undergo incomplete and complete metamorphosis, and flowering and nonflowering seed-bearing plants.

Citation Many Authors. October 16 2012. http://

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamorphosis Debbie Hadley. October 16 2012. http://

insects.about.com/od/growthmetamorphosi1/ss/typesmetamorph_4.htm

Kid zone. October 16 2012. http://www.kidzone.ws/lw/frogs/facts3.htm