VPA 221: Veterinary Entomology and Acarology (1+1)

Types of larva

TYPES OF LARVAE

Classification of the types of larvae is mainly  based on the head and number of legs

Eucephalus

• Larvae with distinct head and mouth part. e.g. larvae of mosquito

Acephalus

• Larvae with reduced head (or) no head. e.g. larvae of dipteran flies

Polypod larvae

• Eucephalus
• Thorax with three segments, each with a pair of legs
• Abdomen with ten segments first 5 segments bearing fleshy hooked legs called prolegs
• It has both thoracic and abdominal legs e.g. caterpillar of butterfly

Oligopod larvae

• Eucephalus
• Thorax with three pairs of legs
• No abdominal legs.   e.g. beetle larvae

Apodous larvae

• Acephalus  (reduced head)
• No thoracic or abdominal legs  e.g. larvae of house flies/blow flies