Metamorphosis

The life of a winged insect lasts from a few days to several years, depending on the species and consists of two or three widely different morphological and behavioral stages.
The egg hatches into a wingless larva, whose main activity is feeding.
In order to grow, it has to undergo successive molts as the cuticle (tegument and exoskeleton) is hard.
When the larva reaches the final stage of its development a spectacular change takes place and the adult insect is revealed, winged and ready for reproduction,.
This metamorphosis involves complex hormonal processes. In most insect groups (Coleoptera, butterflies, bees, flies, etc.) the metamorphosis is said to be "complete". The larva, very different from the adult, first develops into a motionless pupa. During this transitory phase, the insect's body undergoes vast and rapid changes, until finally, after a last molt, the adult insect emerges.
Metamorphosis is a delicate moment in an insect's life due to its extreme vulnerability to predators. As a result, accidents during this complex molt are frequent.