hemimetabolous

Also hem·i·met·a·bol·ic

[hem-ee-mi-tab-uh-luhs]

adjective

Entomology.

1. having the developmental stages of an incomplete metamorphosis.

   the numerous orders of hemimetabolous insects include those of aphids, crickets, cockroaches, dragonflies, and earwigs.

Other Word Forms

• hemimetabolism noun
• hemimetaboly noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hemimetabolous¹

First recorded in 1865–70; hemi- + metabolous

Example Sentences

The oldest fossilized insects developed much like modern ametabolous and hemimetabolous insects—their young looked like adults.

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