Cycles Of Life - From Nymph To Adult

  After an insect has hatched out of its egg, it starts to feed and grow. However, as well as growing, it often changes shape. This is called metamorphosis. In some insects, the changes are only slight, so the young insect looks much like the adult form. In others, the changes are so great that the young and adult look completely different. Insects that change only slightly include dragonflies, grasshoppers, earwigs, cockroaches, true bugs and praying mantises. Their young are called nymph. A nymph does not have wings, although it does have small wing buds, and it is usually a different colour from its parents. It often lives in a different habitat and feeds on different food. Most nymph will molt several times. Each time a nymph sheds its skin, its body gets bigger and its wing buds become longer. Eventually, the nymph is ready for its final molt. It breaks out of its old skin, and emerges as an adult insect with working wings. It can then fly away to find a mate.

Nymph To Adult
Like their parents, nymphs have six legs. Their bodies change in proportion as they grow, but they keep the same overall shape.

Adapted from: Incredible Creatures

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