heterometabolic
/ˌhɛdəroʊˌmɛdəˈbɑlɪk/
adjective
- Describing insects that undergo incomplete metamorphosis, with young resembling adults but lacking wings and reproductive organs.
- The biology class studied heterometabolic development in cockroaches and true bugs.
- Grasshoppers are heterometabolic insects because they hatch as nymphs that look like small adults.
- Heterometabolic species do not have a pupal stage like butterflies do.
Synonyms