幼虫|ようちゅうyouchuu[0]heiban (flat)

1. no-adjectivelarva; grub; maggot

• Synonym幼生ようせいNeutralCovers young whose form differs strikingly from the adult, such as tadpoles; it stresses this morphological gap and has a wider range than 「幼虫」.
• Synonym仔虫しちゅうWrittenRefers to insect larvae; a written-style word, used less often than 「幼虫」, with the same meaning.
• Antonym成虫せいちゅうNeutralAn antonym: the fully developed adult insect, contrasted with 「幼虫」.

Use 「幼虫」 for the young of insects and other arthropods — caterpillars, maggots, mosquito larvae. For young that look very different from the adult, like tadpoles, say 「幼生」. The opposite stage is 「成虫」, the adult insect.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 昆虫こんちゅう、くも、多足類たそくるいなどの陸生りくせい節足動物せっそくどうぶつの幼生ようせいの総称そうしょう。