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Glite Dictionary
holometabolous

holometabolous

9.9
Insects that change completely from egg to adult, with larva and pupa stages
  • adjective
  • /ˌhoʊloʊˈmɛtəˌboʊləs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : holometabólico
  • A butterfly is a well-known example of a holometabolous insect, transforming from a caterpillar to its adult form.

Examples

  • The life cycle of a holometabolous insect includes distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

  • Many species of holometabolous insects, such as beetles, undergo significant changes during their life stages.

  • Holometabolous herbivorous insects are a special case because the adults of many species feed above ground and the larvae feed on roots.

    Academic text (2000)

Synonyms

holometabolic
vsholometabolous
  • Specialized
9.9

Changing completely from an egg to an adult through larva and pupa stages

has identical meaning but uses a different adjective form

How Complete

holometabolous
  • Specialized
9.9
hemimetabolous
  • Specialized
9.9
heterometabolic
  • Specialized
9.9
ametabolous
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

holometabolous positive

Morphology

holometabolous = metabolous (opaque) = holo + metabol + ous

Formed from technical Greek combining forms ('holo-' + 'metabol-' + '-ous') used in scientific terminology, so the meaning is not recoverable by an average learner from the parts.

Etymology

Holometabolous comes from Greek parts holo- 'whole' and metabole 'change', like in the word metamorphosis. So a holometabolous insect goes through a 'complete' change from egg to larva to pupa to adult.