Metamorphosis is a biological process through which an organism undergoes a drastic change in its form and structure during its life cycle. This process is particularly common in insects, amphibians, and some marine animals. Metamorphosis can be categorized into two main types: complete metamorphosis and incomplete metamorphosis.
Complete metamorphosis involves four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. In this process, the larval stage looks completely different from the adult stage and undergoes a dramatic transformation during the pupal stage. Insects such as butterflies, moths, beetles, and flies undergo complete metamorphosis.
In incomplete metamorphosis, the life cycle consists of three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The nymph stage resembles a miniature version of the adult and undergoes gradual changes until it reaches adulthood. Insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and dragonflies undergo incomplete metamorphosis.