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Glite Dictionary
larval

larval

3 7.2
Relating to the young stage of an animal before it becomes an adult
  • adjective
  • /ˈlɑrvəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : larval
  • Negative effects of larval experience on juvenile or adult performance have been reported for some insect species.
  • larval stage
  • larval development
  • larval experience

And and under the western red bellied tiger beetle is the phrase larval biology unknown.

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Examples

  • Grubs, or insects at the larval stage, are eaten worldwide, from Australia to Korea.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Little was known about the larval biology of queen conch prior to 1980.

    Academic text (1997)

  • So this this shows the larval fruit fly here.

  • In most other cases, however, it is not yet clear why the effects of larval experience carry over into juvenile life.

    Academic text (1998)

  • However, Australian populations turned out to have a significantly higher larval weight threshold than their US counterparts.

    Academic text (2005)

  • The damage caused by large and small strongyles is attributed to larval stages.

    Academic text (2015)

  • We also need to consider larval transport and physical oceanography in the design of fishery reserves.

    Academic text (1997)

  • Habitat loss in upstream reaches combined with altered flow conditions from dams may reduce larval outmigration.

    Academic text (2013)

  • Midwater trawl surveys in northern California have documented inter-year variations in larval rockfish abundance.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The olfactory sense in larval fish is very sensitive to changes in the environment.

Antonyms

adult
110 1.0

Fully grown and mature

How Mature

adult
110 1.0
juvenile
79 3.9
postlarval
  • Specialized
8.5
larval
  • Specialized
3 7.2
embryonic
  • Specialized
28 7.0

Surface Forms

larval positive

Morphology

larval = larva (transparent) = larva + al

The adjective is formed regularly from the noun 'larva' with the suffix '-al', meaning 'relating to a larva'.

Etymology

Larval comes from the Latin word larva, which meant 'mask' or 'ghost'. Think of a larva as a 'masked' young animal that looks very different from the adult, so larval means 'relating to the early, immature stage'.