-alis

of, relating to

Forms

-alis
-aris — Latin variant especially used when the stem already contained l, avoiding a repeated l sound.
-al — English ending borrowed through French or directly from Latin.
-ar — English ending continuing Latin -aris.

Origin

An older Latin adjective-forming suffix; its more remote ancestry is uncertain.

Note

Expresses a relationship without specifying its kind: material, place, purpose, and other connections are possible.

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adjective

larval

LAR-vul/ˈlɑːrvl/

Relating to an animal's immature larva stage before adulthood.

The newly hatched caterpillar begins its larval stage on the leaf.

Close natural-history view of a newly hatched caterpillar emerging from its egg on a leaf, beside a fully emerged tiny caterpillar and an empty eggshell.

Etymology

larvLatinghost; mask

+alLatinof, relating to

Latin larva meant both a ghost and a mask. Immature animals were called larvae because their unlike appearance was seen as masking the adult form, giving larval its zoological meaning.

In context

NDSUExtension13:53

it's very effective against the young larvae so you need to get it on in the early growth stages of the larval stage

2022 Spring Fever Garden Forums: Insect Pests Found in Flower Gardens

More examples

Caterpillars are the larval form of butterflies and moths.
Many fish feed on larval insects.
During its larval stage, the beetle feeds on wood.

Forms

larva noun — An immature animal before its adult stage.

Similar words

immature: Means not fully developed, without specifying a larva stage.
juvenile: Describes young animals generally, not specifically those in a larva stage.