What does larviparous mean?
Larviparous describes an animal that produces offspring in the larval stage. Rather than laying eggs that later hatch, the parent gives birth to larvae already developed beyond the egg stage. This unusual reproductive pattern occurs in some insects and other invertebrates. The word is more specific than viviparous, which generally refers to giving birth to young that are already fully developed, and contrasts with oviparous, which describes egg-laying. Larviparous is chiefly a scientific term encountered in biology and entomology, especially in discussions of reproductive strategies, life cycles, and unusual forms of parental reproduction.
adjectiveProducing young in the larval stage rather than laying eggs that hatch into larvae. The term is used especially of certain insects and other invertebrates.
- Producing larvae directly instead of laying eggs that develop into larvae.
"The biologist studied the unusual larviparous reproductive strategy of the insect."
"Several species of gall midges are larviparous, giving birth to live larvae."
"The comparison focused on larviparous reproduction in the insect population."
Some tiny insects skip the egg stage in the usual way: the female gives birth to live larvae.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does larviparous come from?
The word combines Latin larva, meaning a young insect or other immature form, with the Latin root parere, meaning to bring forth or give birth. The resulting term entered English in the 19th century as a specialized zoological and entomological description. Its vocabulary relatives include larviform, referring to something shaped like a larva, and larviculture, the practice of rearing larvae.
Related word forms
How larviparous is actually used
This is a specialized biological term, not a general word for an animal that gives birth to live young. It is especially used in entomology and zoology.
Easily confused with larviparous
Viviparous animals give birth to fully developed offspring, whereas larviparous animals give birth to offspring that are still in the larval stage.
Oviparous animals lay eggs, while larviparous animals produce live young in the larval stage.