Heterometabolous (Adjective)
Meaning
(of an insect) undergoing incomplete metamorphosis in which the nymph is essentially like the adult and there is no pupal stage.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- Heterometabolous insects such as grasshoppers and crickets have young that resemble the adults and undergo a series of molts as they grow.
- The life cycle of heterometabolous insects typically involves three stages: egg, nymph, and adult.
- In heterometabolous insects, the nymphs are often similar in appearance to the adults but lack fully developed wings and reproductive organs.
- Grasshoppers are a classic example of heterometabolous insects, with their young going through a series of molts before reaching adulthood.
- The development of heterometabolous insects is characterized by a gradual increase in size and the development of adult features during the nymph stage.