Hemimetaboly (Noun)
Meaning
Incomplete or partial metamorphosis in insects.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Hemimetaboly is a type of insect development in which the young insects, or nymphs, go through a series of physical transformations before reaching adulthood.
- The process of hemimetaboly involves three stages of development, including the egg, nymph, and adult stages, which distinguish it from complete metamorphosis.
- Examples of insects that undergo hemimetaboly include cockroaches, grasshoppers, and crickets, all of which exhibit distinct physical changes as they mature.
- Hemimetaboly can be observed in many aquatic insects, such as dragonflies and damselflies, which undergo a partial transformation from their juvenile to adult stages.
- True bugs, such as aphids and leafhoppers, also exhibit hemimetaboly, as their nymphs undergo several molts before becoming fully formed adults.