Which describes simple metamorphosis (incomplete metamorphosis)?

Which describes simple metamorphosis (incomplete metamorphosis)?

• A. egg, nymph, and adult
• B. egg, larva, pupa, and adult
• C. egg, larva, and adult
• D. egg, nymph, pupa, and adult

Answer: (A)

Simple metamorphosis involves three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. In this pattern, the immature nymph resembles the adult in form, just smaller, and it molts as it grows until it reaches adult size. There is no pupal stage. This is what makes it incomplete metamorphosis. The other options introduce a larval stage and a pupal stage (or mix stages in a way that doesn’t occur in this type of metamorphosis), which is characteristic of complete metamorphosis, where the life cycle is egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

Simple metamorphosis involves three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. In this pattern, the immature nymph resembles the adult in form, just smaller, and it molts as it grows until it reaches adult size. There is no pupal stage. This is what makes it incomplete metamorphosis.

The other options introduce a larval stage and a pupal stage (or mix stages in a way that doesn’t occur in this type of metamorphosis), which is characteristic of complete metamorphosis, where the life cycle is egg, larva, pupa, and adult.