In the insect lifecycle, what stage follows the egg?

In the insect lifecycle, the correct stage that follows the egg is the nymph stage in hemimetabolous insects, which undergo incomplete metamorphosis. In this process, insects develop from the egg into a nymph, which resembles a smaller version of the adult but lacks fully developed wings and reproductive organs. This stage is particularly characteristic of insects like grasshoppers and cockroaches.

In contrast, the larval stage typically follows the egg in holometabolous insects, such as butterflies and beetles. Here, the egg hatches into a larva, which is quite different in appearance and habits from the adult form. The pupal and adult stages occur later in these insects' life cycles.

Therefore, identifying the nymph stage as the direct successor to the egg accurately reflects the development sequence in certain types of insects, underscoring the variety of lifecycle patterns among different insect groups.