Hemimetabolous
Definition
A developmental pattern with three stages (egg, nymph, adult) and no pupal stage. Nymphs resemble small adults and moult repeatedly. Cockroaches and crickets follow this pattern.
Related terms
- Accumulated Degree Hours (ADH)
- A temperature-corrected measure of developmental time. Calculated by summing (hourly ambient temperature minus the species-specific base temperature threshold) across the period of...
- Binomial Nomenclature
- The two-part Latin naming system established by Linnaeus: genus name followed by species epithet. Used in all scientific and forensic botanical reports...
- Holometabolous
- A developmental pattern with four distinct stages (egg, larva, pupa, adult) and a complete metamorphosis inside the pupal case. Flies, beetles, and...
- Instar
- A developmental stage between moults (ecdysis). Blow flies have three larval instars (L1, L2, L3), each ending when the larva sheds its...
- Spiracle
- An external respiratory opening on the insect body wall. The morphology of the posterior spiracles is a primary character for identifying fly...
Explained in
- Insect Biology and Taxonomy for the Forensic EntomologistA developmental pattern with three stages (egg, nymph, adult) and no pupal stage. Nymphs resemble small adults and moult repeatedly. Cockroaches and crickets f...