In complete metamorphosis, what is the larva of a moth called?

• A. Caterpillar
• B. Grub
• C. Nymph
• D. Pupa

Answer: (A)

In complete metamorphosis, the larval stage in moths is called a caterpillar. This four-stage life cycle—egg, larva, pupa, and adult—means the larva is primarily focused on feeding and growth. For moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera), the larval form is the caterpillar, which is typically worm-like and covered with legs. A grub, by contrast, is a beetle larva, not a moth larva. A nymph is an immature stage in incomplete metamorphosis and resembles the adult, not a distinct larval form. The pupal stage is the transformation phase, often spent inside a chrysalis or cocoon, between the larva and the adult. So the larval term for a moth is caterpillar.