Researchers have studied gene expression dynamics during metamorphosis in two species of flies. Published in the Genome Biology and Evolution, the study aims to identify patterns of changes in gene ...

Predators are far more likely to attack adult moths than caterpillars, highlighting the protective power of metamorphosis.

Complete metamorphosis likely evolved out of incomplete metamorphosis. The oldest fossilized insects developed much like modern ametabolous and hemimetabolous insects—their young looked like adults.

There are more than 40 species of fireflies in Missouri, but their populations have been diminishing over the last few years.

More information: Christin Manthey et al, Rapid growth and the evolution of complete metamorphosis in insects, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2402980121 ...

Have you ever wondered how city life affects animals like frogs? A new study reveals that urban Túngara frog tadpoles develop ...

Going through this type of complete metamorphosis is surprisingly common. About 8 in 10 insects, including beetles, flies, bees, and ants live and grow this way.

“What happens inside a chrysalis during metamorphosis?” asked Chris, writing from Massachusetts. Note: This piece originally aired in September 2023 and was published Sept. 29, 2023.

Have you ever wondered how city life affects animals like frogs? A new study reveals that urban Túngara frog tadpoles develop ...

In insects that undergo incomplete metamorphosis, levels of juvenile hormone dip before the pro-nymph molts into the nymph; in complete metamorphosis, however, juvenile hormone continues to flood ...