Which of the following insects undergoes holometabolous metamorphosis?

Holometabolous metamorphosis is a type of development in insects that includes four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. This process is characteristic of many insects, particularly those in the order Coleoptera (beetles), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Diptera (flies), and Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps).

The soldier beetle undergoes holometabolous metamorphosis. After the egg hatches, the larval stage emerges, which typically looks quite different from the adult form. Following the larval stage, the insect enters a pupal stage, where significant transformations occur. Finally, the adult beetle emerges, fully developed and capable of reproduction. This complete metamorphosis allows soldier beetles, like many other holometabolous insects, to occupy different ecological niches during their larval and adult stages.

In contrast, silverfish and soft scales undergo incomplete metamorphosis and do not have a distinct pupal stage, while spittlebugs follow a hemimetabolous life cycle characterized by the gradual development of the adult form without a pupal stage. Understanding these differences helps in identifying various insect life cycles and their ecological roles