Bird and insect life cycle: Steps of life cycle

Bird and insect life cycle, like the life cycle of any organism is defined as the developmental stages that organism goes through during its lifetime.

• It is the changes in form that an organism undergoes in its lifetime.
• During the adult stage, an organism reproduces, giving rise to new life.
• A life cycle ends with the organism’s death.
• A life cycle can consist of more than three or four basic stages depending on the species.

Key Takeaways: Bird life cycle, insect life cycle, hatchling, fledgling, metamorphosis, larva, pupa

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Bird life cycle

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Birds are warm blooded vertebrate animals adapted for flight. Many can run, jump, swim, and dive. Some, like penguins, are unable to fly but retain their wings. The largest is the nine-foot-tall ostrich and the smallest is the two-inch-long hummingbird.

Life cycle of bird is divided into few steps:

Egg

Female birds lay eggs in groups with the number of eggs ranging from 1 to 15. Eggs are incubated by one or both parents for a certain period of time until the embryo inside develops into a chick which is ready to hatch.

Hatchling

A hatching is a bird that has just come out of its eggshell and has very thin or no layer of feathers. Typically, in this stage eyes are not open, and it is unable to care for itself. Birds in this stage stay in the nest and rely on their parents for feeding and warmth.

Nestling

Nestlings are birds that are a few days old and are covered in soft feathers. In a few species flight feathers start to appear and their eyes are open. In this stage of life cycle, they will be unable to leave the nest and still rely on their parents.

Fledgling

Birds that have developed flight feathers and wing muscles are called fledglings. Birds in this stage generally start to explore outside of the nest but will still be under the watch of their parents. Fledglings are unable to fly for long distances but are active and can hop about.

Juvenile

A juvenile bird is the first stage of being an independent bird. Generally, they can fly. Birds in this stage are in their first plumage and more or less look similar to adult birds.

Subadult

Birds in this stage are older than juveniles but are not sexually mature. They don’t have adult plumage yet. The time period to develop maturity varies from species to species.

Adult

Adult birds are sexually mature, can mate and reproduce. They are in full adult plumage.

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Insect Life Cycle

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Insects go through different stages of their life cycle because of a biological process called metamorphosis. Insects transform from an immature form to an adult form in two, three, or four distinct stages which involve relatively abrupt changes to their body structure.

Typically, there are four possible stages in the insect life cycle: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult. Not all insects have all four stages. It depends on the type of metamorphosis the species follows.

Life cycle of insects is divided into few steps:

Egg

Insects lay their eggs near the food source. For example, moths and butterflies lay their eggs underneath leaves, whereas dung beetles lay eggs in dung. Many insects adopt various ways to protect their eggs. One insect puts foam around its eggs. Many insects lay eggs in pools, ponds, etc. Generally, a female insect does not keep the eggs inside her body. Many eggs undergo a state of inactivity or dormancy. Later, the eggs hatch, and the young are born alive.

Larva

Most eggs hatch into a stage called a larva, which is worm-like. For example, caterpillars and maggots are larvae. While caterpillar larvae tear open the eggs during the hatching, some insect eggs have an “escape cap” that usually pops open when pressure builds up inside the egg. Almost all larvae are eating machines. Many larvae are involved in destroying crops. On the other hand, some like silkworm, make silk thread.

Pupa

Once the larva grows, it changes its shape. And it protects itself by spinning cocoons out of silk. The pupa does not eat and move much. This is mostly a resting and inactive stage. But inside, the insect changes shape. This change is called metamorphosis.

Adult

After the metamorphosis is complete, the pupa hatches into an adult. The adult insect is developed with wings, segs, and body parts. They eat, fly, hunt, and work. Some insect adults live for only one day while some insects have longer adult lives.

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