Conquer the Crawlies: 2026 WDO Home Inspection Practice Exam – Defend Your Domain!

Insects that undergo a complete change in appearance from juvenile to adult develop through complete metamorphosis. This process involves four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. During the larval stage, the insect looks vastly different from the adult form, often having a completely different habitat and lifestyle. The pupa stage is a transformative phase where the insect undergoes significant internal and external changes, culminating in the emergence of the adult form. This type of metamorphosis allows for diverse adaptations and specialized roles at each stage of development, which contributes to the evolutionary success of many insect species.

In contrast, simple, gradual, and intermediate metamorphoses involve less dramatic changes in form and structure as the organism matures. Simple metamorphosis typically refers to species that do not have a distinct pupal stage, while gradual metamorphosis features a life cycle with three stages—egg, nymph, and adult—where nymphs generally resemble smaller versions of adults. Intermediate metamorphosis is not commonly recognized as a distinct classification in entomology, making it less relevant in this context. Hence, complete metamorphosis is the correct term to describe the profound changes occurring from juvenile to adult in these insects.