Bug Basics #2: Insect life cycles

My latest YouTube video. Bugs Basics #2: Insect life cycles

As I mentioned in Bug Basics #1 there is more than one type of insect lifecycle.

The insect life cycle that most people know is one of complete metamorphosis (holometabolous). Insects such as beetles (Coleoptera), moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera), wasps, ants and bees (Hymenoptera), lacewings (Neuroptera), and flies (Diptera) all have a life cycle of complete metamorphosis. The cycle usually goes egg, larva, pupa, adult.

The other type of life cycle detailed in this video is the life cycle of incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabolous). Bugs (Hemiptera), grasshoppers (Orthoptera), mantids (Mantodea), earwigs (Dermaptera, and cockroaches (Blattodea) all have this life cycle. The cycle usually goes egg, nymph, adult.

In the video we look at examples of these life cycles and I give tips on what it means for pest management and beneficial insect encouragement.

I hope you enjoy the video.

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