Mathematical description of holometabolous life cycles

The deterministic continuous equations are developed for the population levels of the various life stages of holometabolous species. Special attention is paid to the larval stage in which the variable of weight, in addition to the traditional variables of age and time, is included; growth rate and the genetic variability of the growth rate are allowed for. A pair of equations is derived that permits computation of the larval population level without regard to the levels of the other life stages. Finite difference equations are developed, simple analytical forms for vital rates are adopted, and a numerical example is given.