Insects develop from egg to adult in a process called metamorphosis which may be generally classified as either gradual or complete. Gradual metamorphosis has three stages – egg, nymph, and adult. Nymphs generally look much like their adult stage except for being smaller and lacking wings, if the species has winged adults. Common examples include stink bugs, grasshoppers, and cockroaches.
About 75% of all insect species go through the four stages of complete metamorphosis - egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larva is a specialized feeding stage that looks very different from the adult. Fortunately, there are just a few basic larval types and they are relatively easy to recognize. Often, insect identification must be based on the larval stage because no adults are present. Being able to recognize larval types can tell you a lot about the insect, For example, is it a plant feeder, predator, or a scavenger? Are any management or control practices necessary? This publication is designed to help you to follow a series of choices in a process to recognize the basic type of the insect that you have.