Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Exopterygota

Exopterygota

9.9
A group of insects whose young look like small adults and whose wings grow outside the body
  • noun
  • /ˌɛkˌsɒpəˈtɪrɪɡə/
  • Specialized
: exopterigotos
  • Grasshoppers and cockroaches belong to the Exopterygota subclass due to their gradual metamorphosis.

Examples

  • The wings of Exopterygota insects develop on the outside of their bodies.

  • Researchers studied several species within Exopterygota to better understand incomplete metamorphosis.

  • The Exopterygota subclass includes many familiar insects.

  • Many Exopterygotas undergo gradual metamorphosis.

  • Grasshoppers and cockroaches are examples of Exopterygota, known for their gradual metamorphosis.

  • Researchers studied various species in the Exopterygota subclass to learn more about their unique life cycles.

  • Insects like grasshoppers belong to the Exopterygota subgroup because their wings develop externally.

Synonyms

Hemimetabola
vsExopterygota
  • Specialized
9.9

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

emphasizes wings forming outside the body rather than internal wing development

Surface Forms

Exopterygota singular
Exopterygotas plural

Morphology

Exopterygota = Pterygota (opaque) = exo + pterygota

Formed from Greek combining forms used in technical taxonomy (exo- + Pterygota), which are not transparent to general learners.

Etymology

The word Exopterygota breaks into exo- ('outside') and -pterygota (from a Greek word for 'wing', the same root as in pterodactyl). So Exopterygota are insects whose wings develop on the outside of the body.