pupa
noun
pu·pa
| \ ˈpyü-pə
\
\
plural pupae\ ˈpyü-(ˌ)pē
also -ˌpī \
or pupas
also -ˌpī \
or pupas
Definition of pupa
: an intermediate usually quiescent stage of a metamorphic insect (such as a bee, moth, or beetle) that occurs between the larva and the imago, is usually enclosed in a cocoon or protective covering, and undergoes internal changes by which larval structures are replaced by those typical of the imago
Keep scrolling for more
Other Words from pupa
pupal
\ ˈpyü-pəl
\
adjective
\
adjective
Examples of pupa in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On its 14-day journey from hatchling to pupa, a single larva will grow nearly an inch long and increase its weight by a factor of 10,000. — Christopher Ingraham, Washington Post, "Maggots: A taste of food’s future," 3 July 2019 Japanese beetles have a one-year complete life cycle from egg, larva, pupa to adult. — Betty Cahill, The Denver Post, "How to get bad insects out of your garden, from Japanese beetles to spider mites," 24 June 2019 District workers, who also treat other breeding locations in forest preserves and elsewhere, use surfactants to smother mosquitoes that make it to the pupa form. — Kathy Routliffe, chicagotribune.com, "Heat, rain, mean earlier mosquito spray operations in Wilmette, Winnetka," 9 July 2018 When a rescuer touches a lightly injured ant with its antennae, the injured ant folds its remaining legs up in a position similar to a pupa and lies still, making itself easier to carry. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "In wars with termites, ants rescue and care for their wounded," 14 Feb. 2018 When the butterfly emerged from its pupa, Robert Reed was stunned. — Ed Yong, The Atlantic, "Scientists Can Now Repaint Butterfly Wings," 18 Sep. 2017 In fact, as soon as one of the ants emerged from its pupa, the other members of the colony ate him. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "T. Rex Ants Found Alive for the First Time," 17 May 2017 The redhumped caterpillar has four stages of development: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa and moth. — Debbie Arrington, sacbee, "Backyard horror story: Attack of the redhumped caterpillars," 27 Oct. 2017 Sort through your cloves to make sure all are solid and free of damage, chew marks, and brown, seedlike fly pupa. — Cathy Rubin, Philly.com, "Oct. 6-12: In the garden, it's time to…," 3 Oct. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pupa.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for pupa
pupa
noun
English Language Learners Definition of pupa
biology
: an insect that is in the stage of development between larva and adult
See the full definition for pupa in the English Language Learners Dictionary
pupa
noun
pu·pa
| \ ˈpyü-pə
\
\
plural pupae\ -ˌpē \
or pupas
Kids Definition of pupa
: an insect (as a bee, moth, or beetle) in an intermediate inactive stage of its growth in which it is enclosed in a cocoon or case
pupa
noun
pu·pa
| \ ˈpyü-pə
\
\
plural pupae\ -(ˌ)pē
, -ˌpī
\
or pupas
, -ˌpī
\
or pupas
Medical Definition of pupa
: an intermediate usually quiescent stage of an insect that occurs between the larva and the imago in forms (as a bee, moth, or beetle) which undergo complete metamorphosis and that is characterized by internal changes by which larval structures are replaced by those typical of the imago
Other Words from pupa
pupal
\ ˈpyü-pəl
\
adjective
\
adjective
Keep scrolling for more