hemimetabolous

[ 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 Words From

• hemi·me·tabo·lism hemi·me·tabo·ly 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.

From Scientific American