larvae
Definitions
The active, immature form of an insect, especially one that differs greatly from the adult and forms the stage between egg and pupa.
The newly hatched, wingless, often wormlike form of many invertebrates before metamorphosis.
Examples
The pond was teeming with mosquito larvae that had hatched after the recent rainfall.
Scientists studied how the larvae transform into adult beetles during the pupal stage.
Synonyms
caterpillars grubs maggots nymphs juveniles immature insects