1.
larva; caterpillar; grub
The immature form of an insect or other organism that undergoes metamorphosis before reaching its adult stage.
カブトムシの幼虫を見つけた。
I found a beetle larva.
幼虫は土の中で冬を過ごす。
The larvae spend the winter underground.
この蝶の幼虫は葉っぱを食べて大きくなり、やがて蛹になる。
This butterfly's caterpillar grows by eating leaves and eventually becomes a chrysalis.
USAGE:
幼虫 is the general scientific term for larval-stage insects. In everyday speech, people may also say 毛虫 (hairy caterpillar) or 芋虫 (smooth caterpillar) for specific types.
LIFE STAGES:
The typical insect life cycle uses: 卵 (egg) → 幼虫 (larva) → 蛹 (pupa/chrysalis) → 成虫 (adult insect).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- カブトムシの幼虫 (beetle larva)
- 蚊の幼虫 (mosquito larva)
- 幼虫が孵化する (a larva hatches)
- 幼虫から成虫になる (to grow from larva to adult)