larva
noun
the immature, wingless, feeding stage of an insect that undergoes complete metamorphosis.
larvae
-
pluralof larva.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When he opened up the shop Friday morning, Ramirez said, he found larvae on the sidewalk and nearby trees.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
That shift matched the insects' normal progression from nursing larvae inside the nest to gathering food outside it.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026
Younger ants generally remain inside the nest and care for larvae.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026
After dark, the larvae rise toward the surface to feed, although they must first pass through large numbers of fish waiting to eat them.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
Within its vegetative rods there are formed, along with spores, peculiar crystals composed of a protein substance highly toxic to certain insects, especially to the larvae of the mothlike lepidopteras.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
