Which insect undergoes complete metamorphosis?

Which insect undergoes complete metamorphosis?

• A. Bed bug
• B. Cat flea
• C. House fly
• D. Indian meal moth

Answer: (D)

Complete metamorphosis means an insect goes through four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult, with a pupal stage that separates the larval and adult forms. Insects with this pattern have larval forms that look very different from the adults, and there is a clearly developmental pupal phase. Bed bugs develop as egg → nymph → adult, with no pupal stage, so they do not undergo complete metamorphosis. The cat flea, house fly, and Indian meal moth all include a pupal stage in their life cycles, making them examples of complete metamorphosis: egg → larva → pupa → adult. The larva forms (maggot, caterpillar, or flea larva) look very different from the adults, and the pupal stage is a distinct transition. So among the options, several insects undergo complete metamorphosis (cat flea, house fly, Indian meal moth), while the bed bug does not. The concept to use here is looking for a pupal stage as the marker of complete metamorphosis.

Complete metamorphosis means an insect goes through four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult, with a pupal stage that separates the larval and adult forms. Insects with this pattern have larval forms that look very different from the adults, and there is a clearly developmental pupal phase.

Bed bugs develop as egg → nymph → adult, with no pupal stage, so they do not undergo complete metamorphosis. The cat flea, house fly, and Indian meal moth all include a pupal stage in their life cycles, making them examples of complete metamorphosis: egg → larva → pupa → adult. The larva forms (maggot, caterpillar, or flea larva) look very different from the adults, and the pupal stage is a distinct transition.

So among the options, several insects undergo complete metamorphosis (cat flea, house fly, Indian meal moth), while the bed bug does not. The concept to use here is looking for a pupal stage as the marker of complete metamorphosis.