What is the term for the early life stage of an insect, such as a butterfly?

The term for the early life stage of an insect, such as a butterfly, is larva. During this stage, the insect is typically in a feeding and growing phase, where it undergoes significant development. In the case of butterflies, the larval stage is also referred to as a caterpillar. This stage is crucial as it allows the insect to accumulate energy and nutrients necessary for its transformation during the later stages of development.

While the terms cocoon and pupa refer to different stages of development, they follow the larva stage. The pupa stage, for instance, is where the caterpillar undergoes metamorphosis in preparation to emerge as an adult butterfly. Adult refers to the fully developed stage of the insect, but it is not the early life stage being asked about in this question.