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Glite Dictionary
metabola

metabola

9.9
Insects that change completely from egg to adult, for example a caterpillar then a pupa
  • noun
  • Specialized
: metábola
  • Many insects, such as beetles, undergo metabola.

Examples

  • Beetles and butterflies are classic examples of metabola in the insect world.

  • The classification of metabola distinguishes them from insects with incomplete metamorphosis.

  • Scientists study the development of metabola to understand evolutionary adaptations.

  • The metabola of butterflies is fascinating.

  • Beetles and butterflies are classic examples of metabola in the insect world.

  • The classification of metabola distinguishes them from insects with incomplete metamorphosis.

  • Scientists study the development of metabola to understand evolutionary adaptations.

Synonyms

holometabola
vsmetabola
  • Specialized
1 9.9

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

is a general entomology term describing insects passing through all life stages

Surface Forms

metabola singular
metabolae plural

Etymology

Metabola comes from the Greek root meta meaning 'change', the same idea you see in metamorphosis and metabolism. It names insects that 'change' completely from egg to larva to pupa to adult, so the origin explains their full life-stage transformation.