Hemimetabola

9.9

A group of insects whose young look like small adults without full wings

noun
/ˌhɛmɪˈmɛtəˌboʊlə/

Specialized

: Hemimetábola

Many true bugs, classified as Hemimetabola, display young nymphs that resemble adults in form.

Examples

Grasshoppers and cockroaches are members of the Hemimetabola, which do not undergo a pupal stage.
The Hemimetabola undergo gradual metamorphosis.
The concept of Hemimetabola helps entomologists categorize insects based on their development.
Many species of Hemimetabola are found in freshwater habitats.
Grasshoppers and cockroaches are members of the Hemimetabola, which do not undergo a pupal stage.
Many true bugs, classified as Hemimetabola, display young nymphs that resemble adults in form.
The concept of Hemimetabola helps entomologists categorize insects based on their development.

Synonyms

Exopterygota

vsHemimetabola

Specialized

9.9

A group of insects whose young look like small adults and whose wings grow outside the body

emphasizes juvenile stage resembling small adults rather than wing position

Surface Forms

Hemimetabola singular

Hemimetabolas plural

Morphology

Hemimetabola = hemi + metabol + a

A technical Neo‑Latin/Greek coinage (hemi- + metabol- + -a) used in taxonomy; the meaning 'half-change' or relation to metamorphosis is not obvious to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Hemimetabola comes from the Greek parts hemi- 'half' and metabole 'change', the same idea you see in hemisphere and metamorphosis. So it names insects that have a 'half-change' as they grow: their young look like small adults and they do not go through a full pupal stage.