幼虫(ようちゅう)

ようちゅう
noun
larva; caterpillar; grub
animal-insect
1. larva; caterpillar; grub
The immature form of an insect or other organism that undergoes metamorphosis before reaching its adult stage.
カブトムシの幼虫(ようちゅう)を見(み)つけた。
I found a beetle larva.
幼虫(ようちゅう)は土(つち)の中(なか)で冬(ふゆ)を過(す)ごす。
The larvae spend the winter underground.
この蝶(ちょう)の幼虫(ようちゅう)は葉(は)っぱを食(た)べて大(おお)きくなり、やがて蛹(さなぎ)になる。
This butterfly's caterpillar grows by eating leaves and eventually becomes a chrysalis.

Usage

幼虫(ようちゅう) is the general scientific term for larval-stage insects. In everyday speech, people may also say 毛虫(けむし) (hairy caterpillar) or 芋虫(いもむし) (smooth caterpillar) for specific types.

Life stages

The typical insect life cycle uses: 卵(たまご) (egg) → 幼虫(ようちゅう) (larva) → 蛹(さなぎ) (pupa/chrysalis) → 成虫(せいちゅう) (adult insect).

Common collocations

general
Added 2026.3.12 17:58 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
16000/16411_youchuu