holometabola

1 9.9

Insects that change form in three stages: larva, pupa and adult, like butterflies

noun
/ˌhoʊloʊˈmɛtəˌboʊlə/

Specialized

: holometábola

Beetles and butterflies are examples of holometabola because they have distinct larval, pupal, and adult stages.

Examples

Scientists study holometabola to understand the evolution of insect development.
Flies, beetles, and butterflies are all classified as holometabola due to their complete metamorphosis.
Unlike grasshoppers, which are hemimetabolous, flies belong to the holometabola group.
The holometabola group includes butterflies and beetles.
Are holometabolae more diverse than other insects?
Beetles and butterflies are examples of holometabola because they have distinct larval, pupal, and adult stages.
Scientists study holometabola to understand how insects change between their larval, pupal, and adult forms.

Synonyms

metabola

vsholometabola

Specialized

9.9

Insects that change completely from egg to adult, for example a caterpillar then a pupa

is a named group for those insects rather than a general definition

Surface Forms

holometabola singular

holometabolas plural

holometabolae plural

Morphology

holometabola = metabolism (opaque) = holo + metabola

The prefix 'holo-' means 'whole' or 'entire', but the specific biological meaning is not easily derived from 'metabolism'.

Etymology

The word holometabola comes from Greek parts holo- meaning 'whole' and metabole meaning 'change', so it literally means 'whole change'. So holometabola are insects that go through a complete change of form in their life, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.