In insect development, what does the term instar describe?

In insect development, what does the term instar describe?

• A. The adult mosquito life stage
• B. The pupal stage between molts
• C. The developmental stage of an insect larva between molts
• D. The life stage after metamorphosis

Answer: (C)

Instars are the growth stages of a larval insect between molts. As a larva grows, it sheds its skin and enters a new instar, so each instar represents the period between successive molts. In mosquitoes, for example, the larva goes through several larval instars before becoming a pupa and then an adult. The pupal stage is a distinct life stage and does not count as an instar, and metamorphosis leads to the adult, which is not an instar. Therefore, the correct description is that an instar is the developmental stage of a larva between molts.

Instars are the growth stages of a larval insect between molts. As a larva grows, it sheds its skin and enters a new instar, so each instar represents the period between successive molts. In mosquitoes, for example, the larva goes through several larval instars before becoming a pupa and then an adult. The pupal stage is a distinct life stage and does not count as an instar, and metamorphosis leads to the adult, which is not an instar. Therefore, the correct description is that an instar is the developmental stage of a larva between molts.