larva

Etymology

From Latin larva (“ghost-like, masked”).

noun

1. An early stage of growth for some insects and amphibians, in which after hatching from their egg, insects are wingless and resemble a caterpillar or grub, and amphibians lack limbs and resemble fish.
   The habits of the second nymphal stage are likewise similar to those of the larva stage. 1923, Bulletin of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, page 6
   Several possible explanations are advanced for a large decrease in numbers between the egg and larva stage, namely, drift of larvae from the sampling station, escape through the meshes of the net, sinking below the surface layers, and loss from mortality. A seasonally erratic egg to larva ratio is pointed out. 1954, Contribution - Hawaii Marine Laboratory, page 186
2. An animal in the aforementioned stage.
   The young larva bores into the tissue of a tobacco leaf, usually near the place where it has emerged from the egg, in cases where the egg was laid on a leaf, and mines into the leaf. 1920, Memoirs of the Department of Agriculture in India, page 84
   What does a mountain newt larva eat? 2020, Anne Sagner, Ichthy, diary of a newt larva, page 4
3. A form of a recently born or hatched animal that is quite different from its adult stage.
   In water of 5-6° C, herring hatch in about 22 days, at 11-12° C in 8–10 days. The newly hatched larva is about 6–8 mm long and at first depends on the food reserves of the yolk-sac. 1968, R. V. Tait, F. A. Dipper, Elements of Marine Ecology, page 344
   Breeding females of both the Lophogastrida and Mysida carry their embryos and larvae in a marsupium, within which their entire embryonic and larval development takes place. 2014, Joel W. Martin, Jørgen Olesen, Jens T. Høeg, Atlas of Crustacean Larvae, page 199
4. (figurative) A preliminary stage of someone or something, before it has fully matured, especially a time of growth rather than one of performance.
   In the fourteenth we find, but still in Latin, a quasi-historical drama, in the larva stage of monologue recitation, founded on a subject from the national annals—that of Ezzelino, tyrant-duke of Padua. 1883, The Edinburgh Review - Volume 158, page 64
   Man's larva stage is first announced by strong pathetic squalls; — Conscious knowledge of his helplessness, — dependency, appalls, — Evokes maternal sympathy,— for him she will provide,— Most proud mother, happy parent, as he nestles by her side. 1909, Frederick Joseph Duggan, Infinity ; Or, Nature's God, page 58
   The larva stage of the child's mind demands much forage material. 1910 November, “Teaching Pupils to Study”, in The Louisiana School Review, volume 18, number 3, page 132
   The larva stage possesses a libido of nutrition, if I may so express it, but not yet the libido sexualis. 1915, Nervous and Mental Disease Monographs - Volumes 19-22 -, page 34
   After they have fairly emerged from what may be termed the larva stage, so that they can make their way about, we see them experimenting with their bodies and exploring their surroundings. Babies handle; they taste, they feel with hands and mouths, they look, and they listen; they creep and walk and climb; later they stride, trot, jump, utilizing everything they can find in their play purpose of activity. 1930, American Childhood - Volume 16, page 10
   I would call the arrival and settlement of our forefathers in this country which we now call Ghana as the egg stage; the time between the birth of the Fante Confederacy and the time of the first Legislative Council as the larva stage; the time the Positive Action was declared as the pupa stage; and the 3rd of August, 1956, when the historic motion for independence was moved, as the full-grown stage. 1956, Gold Coast. Legislative Assembly, Debates - Part 1, page 205
   A vision in the larva stage uses our knowledge base to grow. We cannot see this process, but it goes on in the back of our mind, usually without our knowing it. 2021, Oleg Konovalov, The Vision Code: How to Create and Execute a Compelling Vision for Your Business, page 31
   We also have been in the larva stage of life. And many people will never abandon this stage. A larva is an adult of eighteen years or more. An adult that never grew up and just wakes up, work, pay bills, sleep, breathe, and so on. 2021, Reynaldo J Garcia, Go to the Next Level