holometabolous

Thân thiện

A caterpillar becomes a holometabolous butterfly.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • (Entomology) Undergoing complete metamorphosis: Describes insects that develop through four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. This process involves a dramatic transformation in form and structure between the larval and adult stages.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Butterflies are holometabolous insects.
  • The holometabolous development of beetles includes a grub-like larval stage.
  • Flies, being holometabolous, have a maggot as their larval form.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific Classification: The term is primarily used in formal biological and entomological contexts to classify and describe insect orders.
  • The order Lepidoptera is entirely holometabolous.
• Contrast with "hemimetabolous": Used to contrast insects with incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) from those with complete metamorphosis.
  • Unlike grasshoppers, which are hemimetabolous, bees are holometabolous.

Variants and Related Words

• Holometabolism (n): The process of complete metamorphosis.
  • Holometabolism is a complex developmental strategy.
• Holometaboly (n): Synonym for holometabolism.
• Holometabolic (adj): Functionally synonymous with holometabolous.

Synonyms

• Endopterygote: (Technical) Refers to insects that develop wings inside the body during larval stages, which is characteristic of holometabolous insects.
• Having complete metamorphosis: A descriptive phrase synonymous with the meaning.

Antonyms

• Hemimetabolous: (Adjective) Undergoing incomplete or simple metamorphosis.
• Ametabolous: (Adjective) Undergoing little or no metamorphosis.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. (of an insect) undergoing complete metamorphosis

Từ đồng nghĩa

• holometabolic