What does larvae mean?
The word “larvae” is the plural of “larva” and refers to the immature stages of insects and certain other animals. Larvae often look quite different from the adults they will become: a caterpillar, for example, develops into a butterfly, while a mosquito larva later becomes an adult mosquito. The term is especially common in biology, ecology, medicine, and pest control. In general discussion, “larvae” most often means young insects, especially mosquito or fly larvae, but its scientific use can include the young forms of fish, amphibians, molluscs, and other animals. “Larva” names a single immature form, whereas “larvae” names more than one. The word is useful when discussing life cycles, environmental health, disease transmission, and the distinction between an animal’s immature and adult forms.
nounThe immature, usually wormlike or caterpillar-like form of an insect or certain other animals during their developmental stage before reaching the adult form.
- The immature form of an insect, especially one that differs greatly in appearance from the adult.
- The immature or developmental form of certain fish, amphibians, molluscs, and other animals.
"The pond was teeming with mosquito larvae."
"Mosquito larvae breathe air through a small breathing tube at the surface of the water."
"Researchers tracked the fish larvae as they moved from the river into deeper coastal waters."
The standard plural of larva is larvae. The singular larva refers to one immature form.
"The larvae were killed by the pesticide."
A larva can spend most of its life in a completely different body form from the adult it will become.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does larvae come from?
The word comes from Latin “larva,” which could mean a mask, spectre, or ghostly apparition. The biological sense developed from the idea of an organism in an early, “masked,” or different-looking stage of its existence. Its plural “larvae” follows the regular Latin plural pattern, and related English forms include “larval,” “larvaceous,” and “larvicide.”
Related word forms
How larvae is actually used
The term is primarily a biological term and is most common in scientific and educational contexts. In everyday usage, it often refers specifically to insect larvae, although it can also be applied more broadly to the young stages of other animals.
Easily confused with larvae
A larva is the singular form naming one immature animal, while larvae is the usual plural naming several.
Larvae are the immature animals themselves; larval describes a stage, characteristic, or form related to them.