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Which hormone causes metamorphosis in silk moths?

GeneralClass 12AllAnswered 27 Mar 2026
Answer

The hormone that brings about metamorphosis in silk moths, transforming the caterpillar (larva) into an adult silk moth, is called ecdysone (also known as the molting hormone). This hormone regulates the complex process of metamorphosis, during which the caterpillar undergoes dramatic physical changes inside its cocoon, breaking down larval tissues and reorganizing them into adult structures including wings, reproductive organs, and antennae. This process demonstrates how hormones control not just human development but also crucial life-stage transitions in insects and other organisms.

General · Class 12