Which stage of insect development is characterized as a nonfeeding stage between larva and adult?

The stage of insect development characterized as a nonfeeding phase between larva and adult is the pupa. During this stage, the insect undergoes a remarkable transformation known as metamorphosis. The pupa does not eat or move much; instead, it focuses on internal changes, where the larval structures are broken down and adult structures are formed. This process is vital for the insect to emerge later as a fully developed adult.

Caterpillars are the larval stage of certain insects, particularly moths and butterflies, and they are actively feeding and growing during this time. Eggs represent the initial developmental stage where an embryo develops, and adults are the final stage of development, where insects are fully formed and capable of reproduction. Thus, neither caterpillar, egg, nor adult stages fit the description of a nonfeeding transition phase like the pupa does.