In biology, a nymph is the immature form of some insect species (e.g. among the locusts, cicadas, mayflies, termites, crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, mantids, and dragonflies) or arachnids species (e.g. spiders, scorpions, harvestmen, ticks, and mites) that undergo incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabolism). It is not to be confused with a larva, as its overall form is already that of the adult.

The word is borrowed from mythology; see "Nymph". Nymphs of a number of aquatic insects, such as dragonfly, mayfly, or damselfly are also called naiads, after the aquatic nymphs, naiads.

See also

• egg_(biology)
• larva

Developmental biology | Entomology | Animal anatomy

Nymphe (Zoologie) | Nymfe (insekt) | Nymphe (biologie) | נימפה (חרקים) | Ninfa (zoologia)