What is the term for the process in which insects change their form?

The term for the process in which insects change their form is metamorphosis. This biological process involves a dramatic transformation in structure and function, typically from a larval stage to an adult form. Metamorphosis can occur in various forms, such as complete metamorphosis, which includes four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult, as seen in butterflies and beetles, or incomplete metamorphosis, which includes three stages: egg, nymph, and adult, as seen in grasshoppers and cockroaches.

This process is crucial for insects as it allows them to adapt to different ecological niches and environments during their life cycle, facilitating survival and reproduction. The transformation involves significant physiological changes, enabling insects to exploit various resources at different life stages.

The other options, such as maturation, refer to growth and development to reproductive capability rather than a significant change in form. Development generally deals with the progression and growth throughout an organism's life span, and evolution pertains to the process of species change over generations rather than the individual transformation of an insect's form.