Final answer:
Complete metamorphosis has four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult, with each stage looking different. Incomplete metamorphosis has three stages: egg, nymph, and adult, where the nymph gradually resembles the adult. In complete metamorphosis, the larva and adult often have different diets.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences Between Complete and Incomplete Metamorphosis:
Metamorphosis is a biological process by which insects transform from an immature form to an adult form. Complete metamorphosis involves four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Each stage looks very different from the others. Notably, during the larva and pupa stages, significant changes occur. In contrast, incomplete metamorphosis, seen in insects such as grasshoppers, involves only three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The nymph stage is similar to the adult, but without functional wings or reproductive organs, which develop as the nymph grows.
Insects that undergo complete metamorphosis, like butterflies and beetles, experience a larval stage that may have a different diet from the adult, reducing competition for resources. Social insects such as ants and bees also commonly exhibit complete metamorphosis. However, some insects, such as cockroaches and crickets, develop through incomplete metamorphosis, where the immature forms are called nymphs and resemble smaller, wingless versions of the adult insect.