Why is the life cycle of grasshopper is only three stages ?

The life cycle of a grasshopper consists of three stages - egg, nymph, and adult - because grasshoppers undergo incomplete metamorphosis. In incomplete metamorphosis, the young nymphs resemble the adults but are smaller and lack wings. They go through a series of molts, shedding their exoskeletons as they grow and develop.

Unlike insects that undergo complete metamorphosis, such as butterflies, grasshoppers do not have a pupal stage where they undergo a dramatic transformation. Instead, they gradually develop into adults through a series of molts until they reach their final adult form. This simpler life cycle with fewer stages is characteristic of insects that undergo incomplete metamorphosis.