[Sapphire]

If I remember right, for insects there are two different types of "metamorphosis" as they grow; complete and partial. Partial metamorphosis is like what a grasshopper goes through; it is hatched in just about the same shape as an adult grasshopper, but smaller, and as it grows, it sheds to accomodate growth, but otherwise remains the same basic shape. Complete metamorphosis is like a butterfly, moth, mosquito or any other insect that goes through a coccoon type phase. Butterflies have coccoons, which are woven from fuzz or silk, moths have pupae, which is actually their outer shell hardened into a protective coating... etc. In short, just because mudokons are hatched from eggs doesn't make them larvae. To be a larvae you'd either have to molt or go through complete metamorphosis I think, and they look pretty well-formed in the pictures of them we've seen. Who knows, though, maybe they go through a phase that determines what function they'll serve as adults, like how queen bees eat royal jelly when young and that triggers a horomonal change.