What describes the life cycle of Complete Metamorphosis?

The life cycle of complete metamorphosis is characterized by four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. During this process, an organism undergoes significant transformation, starting from a fertilized egg that hatches into a larva, which typically looks very different from the adult. The larval stage is primarily focused on growth and development.

After the larva has reached a certain size, it enters the pupal stage, where it undergoes a dramatic reorganization of its body to transition into the adult form. This pupation phase is crucial, as the organism is often inactive and effectively undergoes the changes necessary to emerge as a fully formed adult. The final stage is the adult, which is capable of reproduction and may have a completely different lifestyle and habitat compared to the larva.

This cycle of four stages is commonly observed in insects such as butterflies, beetles, and flies, demonstrating the remarkable transformations that take place during their development. The completeness of this metamorphosis is what distinguishes it from other types of life cycles, such as incomplete metamorphosis, which involves fewer developmental stages.