What type of metamorphosis do flies undergo?

Flies undergo complete metamorphosis, which is a process involving four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. This type of development allows for a transformation where the larval stage is completely different in form and function from the adult stage.

During the larval stage, for example, flies are often known as maggots and focus on feeding and growth. After this stage, they enter the pupal phase, where significant changes occur internally and externally as they prepare to emerge as adult flies. This process is contrasted with incomplete metamorphosis, where organisms develop through nymph stages, resembling smaller versions of adults without a distinct pupal stage. Understanding this lifecycle is crucial for pest management, as different stages may require different control measures.