Larvesta is a fuzzy, moth larvae-like Pokémon. It has blue eyes in a shadowed face, and five orange, slightly whorled horns at the sides of its head. Its white mane of fuzz encompasses its head and the upper half of its body; its lower body is brown. It has three pairs of small black legs (unlike its evolved form, which has only two pairs). From a birds' eye view, Larvesta resembles a torch.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Larvesta "flying" using the fire that spits out from its horns
Larvesta can spit fire from its five horns as a defensive tactic.
Behavior
Larvesta keep predators away by shooting fire from its horns.
Larvesta is the last Pokémon in the National Pokédex that evolves into another Pokémon.
Larvesta learns a new move every ten levels. It would share this trait with its evolved form, but Volcarona also learns Quiver Dance at level 59.
For reasons unknown, Larvesta and Volcarona cannot learn Attract, despite having genders and being compatible with other TMs. They share this trait with Nincada, although Nincada's inability to learn the move is likely due to a desire to keep the genderless Shedinja from learning it. They also share this trait with Ferroseed and Ferrothorn.
Larvesta, along with its evolution, are the only known Pokémon with a double weakness to the Rock-type that are not Flying-types.
Origin
Larvesta is based on a moth and the famed Japanese monument, the Tower of the Sun. Larvesta appears to be based on an Atlas moth larva. The way its red growths are shaped and positioned on its circular body may be a reference to the sun. It may also be based on a torch.
Name origin
Larvesta's name is derived from larva, a term for an infant insect, and Vesta, Roman goddess of the hearth and home, symbolised and represented by an eternally-burning fire located in her temple. It may also come from lava, molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption, referring to it being the larva stage of its evolved form whose name is derived from volcano.
Merlarva may derive from めらめら meramera, onomatopoeia for flaring, and larva.