The immature insect, or larva, escapes from the egg and acts
essentially as an eating machine, gathering nutrients. The larva
has no wings or reproductive organs and has a form which does
not resemble the adult of the species, but appears to be more
like its ancient pre-insect ancestor. The larva's body is
generally wormlike and may have no legs or may have extra legs
to support the long body. As the larva eats, it grows
extraordinarily quickly, molting a specific number of times
before it pupates. The larvae of beetles are commonly called
grubs, the larvae of flies maggots, and the larvae of
butterflies and moths caterpillars. When the larva has grown
large enough and ingested enough food, it enters a stage of
apparent dormancy as a pupa. The larva usually protects itself,
either in a secure hiding spot, within a shelter of its own
construction, or inside of a cocoon spun of silk from a gland
near its mouth, as it prepares to pupate. It appears to be
resting, but in fact, nothing could be further from the tr