An instar (/ ˈɪnstɑːr / ⓘ, from the Latin īnstar 'form, likeness') is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, which occurs between each moult (ecdysis) until sexual maturity is reached. [1] . Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow or assume a new form.

The fire ant larvae develop through four progressively larger stages called instars. They molt (shed their “skin”) between stages. The worker ants feed solid food to the oldest larvae (last instar).

Mar 14, 2010 · This study aimed to determine the number of larval instars and describe the immature stages of the ant Monomorium floricola Jerdon (Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Specimens were analyzed and measured using light and scanning electron microscopy.

Feb 25, 2011 · Larvae of different instars of Myrmelachista catharinae Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are herein described in detail by light and scanning electron microscopy. The number of larval instars was estimated as three based on the …

May 2, 2012 · The immatures of males of two species of Camponotus ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are described and compared by light and electron microscopy. The numbers of larval instars were determined: Camponotus rufipes Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) have four instars; and Camponotus vittatus Forel have three.

Aug 24, 2024 · Instar is a term used in entomology to describe the developmental stages of insect larvae. It refers to the stage of an arthropod between moults, such as after hatching from the egg and the insect is said to be in its first instar. Instars are short early in life but grow longer with increasing age due to the frequency of molts.

3 days ago · In the recently published article, “Morphology, but not morphometry, identifies instars in Ectatomma tuberculatum ants”, the authors from Université Sorbonne (Paris, France) focus on Ectatomma tuberculatum (Figure 1), one of the most common and abundant ant species in the Neotropical region described in 1792 by Guillaume Antoine Olivier ...

Jan 1, 1991 · There are three instars based on the frequency distribution of larval head widths. The larvae had some characteristics typical of Camponotus, specifically, a ‘pogonomyrmecoid’ body shape, 10...

Jan 8, 2025 · Instar is the developmental stage of an arthropod between moults, occurring between each moult (ecdysis) until sexual maturity is reached. It is defined as the period between two apolyses and begins when the insect first becomes detached from its old skin.

Oct 6, 2021 · They surveyed larval morphology for the fungus-growing ant Acromyrmex echinatior using various combinatory quantitative traits and provide a key for the 3 rd to 5 th instar larvae. Here, first author Rachelle M.M. Adams answers some questions and shares some pictures.