a young wingless often wormlike form (as a grub or caterpillar) that hatches from the egg of many insects
the larva looked ugly, but it was destined to hatch into a beautiful butterfly
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Recent Examples of larvaBristly rose slug The bristly rose slug is the most common rose slug in California and is the larva of a sawfly.—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025 Obligate diapause solves this by ensuring that the whole population goes dormant just before pupation, the final transformation from larva to adult.—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2025 In its first winter, the larva enters a quiescent state, pausing its development until conditions improve.—Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025 The way the toxin gains entry is by activation of Bt’s chitinase which degrades the chitin lining a larva’s digestive tract.—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for larva
Recent Examples of Synonyms for larva
nymph
Noun
The new nymphs will drop to the ground, bury themselves, and disappear until 2042.
—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
13 May 2025
The nymphs first make their way out of the ground, then crawl up a tree or an upright surface, Kritsky said.
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