Holometabolous
Definition
A developmental pattern with four distinct stages (egg, larva, pupa, adult) and a complete metamorphosis inside the pupal case. Flies, beetles, and moths are holometabolous.
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...
- Hemimetabolous
- A developmental pattern with three stages (egg, nymph, adult) and no pupal stage. Nymphs resemble small adults and moult repeatedly. Cockroaches 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 four distinct stages (egg, larva, pupa, adult) and a complete metamorphosis inside the pupal case. Flies, beetles, and moths are h...