I've been intrigued by the question of how did this weird larvae/pupae/adult life cycle develop in the first place.
Here's an interesting little article on the topic.
I didn't know the first insects used to hatch the way crickets do now, as miniature adults.
https://www.scientif...osis-evolution/
Past & Present
Veromessor pergandei, andrei, stoddardi; Novomessor cockerelli
Camponotus fragilis, Camponotus sansabeanus (inactive), vicinus, laevigatus/quercicola, CA02
Pogonomyrmex subnitidus, P. californicus (inactive)
Liometopum occidentale (inactive); Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus (inactive); Tetramorium sp. (inactive); Lasius sp.
Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis, and a box of drywood termites that can't be seen
Isopods: (most no longer keeping) A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus, P. pruinosus, T. tomentosa
Spoods: (no longer keeping) Phidippus sp., other