An incomplete life cycle consists of which stages?

An incomplete life cycle consists of which stages?

• A. Egg, Nymph, Adult
• B. Egg, Larva, Pupa, Adult
• C. Egg, Caterpillar, Chrysalis
• D. Baby, Child, Adult

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how metamorphosis occurs in insects. Incomplete metamorphosis has three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. There is no pupal stage, and the nymphs look like smaller versions of the adults and molt as they grow until they reach the adult form. That three-stage sequence matches the option that lists egg, nymph, and adult. The other options describe cycles with a fourth stage (larva and pupa) or use non-insect terms. A four-stage cycle (egg, larva, pupa, adult) represents complete metamorphosis, which isn’t the case here. A sequence like egg, caterpillar, chrysalis corresponds to larva and pupa within Lepidoptera and also includes a pupal stage. And baby/child/adult aren’t insect life stages.

The main idea is how metamorphosis occurs in insects. Incomplete metamorphosis has three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. There is no pupal stage, and the nymphs look like smaller versions of the adults and molt as they grow until they reach the adult form. That three-stage sequence matches the option that lists egg, nymph, and adult.

The other options describe cycles with a fourth stage (larva and pupa) or use non-insect terms. A four-stage cycle (egg, larva, pupa, adult) represents complete metamorphosis, which isn’t the case here. A sequence like egg, caterpillar, chrysalis corresponds to larva and pupa within Lepidoptera and also includes a pupal stage. And baby/child/adult aren’t insect life stages.