# Shoudn't there be a "larva" option in life stage annotations? **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [May 2, 2026, 11:15pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/shoudnt-there-be-a-larva-option-in-life-stage-annotations/78428 "2026-05-02T23:15:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![norm\_shea](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/norm_shea/32/20776_2.png) [@norm\_shea](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/norm_shea)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2026, 11:15pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/shoudnt-there-be-a-larva-option-in-life-stage-annotations/78428/1 "2026-05-02T23:15:17Z")
Not sure if this would be a Bug Report but thought I’d start here. Regarding the below observation (I think it’s actually a butterfly/moth larva and then this option is available) but for Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota), shouldn’t there be a “larva” stage in the Life Stage annotations? I can’t think of an instance where there wouldn’t be one for this group but maybe there is. Just checking if it’s something that needed to be added. [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/357613706](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/357613706) ![Screenshot 2026-05-02 at 19.19.30](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/e/8/e82b5d5572c06a1804a92ef5107a0e0abaf296e6.png) ---
**Author:** ![pisum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@pisum](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/pisum)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2026, 11:23pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/shoudnt-there-be-a-larva-option-in-life-stage-annotations/78428/2 "2026-05-02T23:23:04Z")
> [@norm\_shea](#): > > I can’t think of an instance where there wouldn’t be one for this group but maybe there is. iNaturalist, i think most insects that undergo complete metamorphosis get “Larva” as a life stage option, while others get “Nymph”. Pyerygota contains both sorts. so you probably need to narrow things down to at least order before you get “larva” or “nymph”. ---
**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2026, 11:24pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/shoudnt-there-be-a-larva-option-in-life-stage-annotations/78428/3 "2026-05-02T23:24:28Z")
Larva is available for these groups: [https://help.inaturalist.org/en/support/solutions/articles/151000191830-what-are-the-definitions-of-inaturalist-annotations-#Life-Stage-(within-Animalia)](https://help.inaturalist.org/en/support/solutions/articles/151000191830-what-are-the-definitions-of-inaturalist-annotations-#Life-Stage-(within-Animalia)) ---
**Author:** ![jwidness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jwidness](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jwidness)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2026, 11:27pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/shoudnt-there-be-a-larva-option-in-life-stage-annotations/78428/4 "2026-05-02T23:27:39Z")
some related previous discussions: [https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/lets-talk-annotations/627/472](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/lets-talk-annotations/627/472) [https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/life-stages-missing-in-subclass-pterygota/53617](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/life-stages-missing-in-subclass-pterygota/53617) ---
**Author:** ![norm\_shea](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/norm_shea/32/20776_2.png) [@norm\_shea](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/norm_shea)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/shoudnt-there-be-a-larva-option-in-life-stage-annotations/78428/5 "2026-05-02T23:58:50Z")
Well, look at that second reference (smiles sheepishly), I guess it’s been addressed already then. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/2X/7/7831452cf7f0d653ff1ffd34176334b7ef1b6a17.png) [@system](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 11:59pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/shoudnt-there-be-a-larva-option-in-life-stage-annotations/78428/6 "2026-07-01T23:59:44Z")
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