Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Glossary » H » holometabolous, holometabola

holometabolous, holometabola

Classification · Identification · See Also · Print References · Works Cited
Black swallowtail, collage of metamorphosis, 3 stages - Papilio polyxenes - male Horned Passalus life stages - Odontotaenius disjunctus Hypermetamorphosis of Striped Blister Beetle - Epicauta vittata
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
No Taxon (Glossary)
No Taxon (H)
No Taxon holometabolous, holometabola
Identification
holometabolous adjective - indicating an insect that undergoes complete metamorphosis. Holometabolous insects have a four-stage life cycle (1):
1-egg (embryo)
2-larva, typically worm-like with several stages (instars)
3-pupa (resting, transformative stage)
4-imago (adult, sexual stage, typically winged)

The following orders of insects are holometabolous:
Neuroptera - Antlions, Lacewings and Allies
Coleoptera - Beetles
Hymenoptera - Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies
Trichoptera - Caddisflies
Lepidoptera - Butterflies and Moths
Mecoptera - Scorpionflies, Hangingflies and Allies
Diptera - Flies
Siphonaptera - Fleas
Strepsiptera - Twisted-winged Insects
This group is referred to as Endopterygota or Holometabola.
See Also
metamorphosis
ametabolous
hemimetabolous
paurometabolous
holometabolous (Endopterygota)
Print References
Borror et al. (1)
Gordh, A Dictionary of Entomology, p. 447 (2)
Works Cited
1.Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the Study of Insects
Norman F. Johnson, Charles A. Triplehorn. 2004. Brooks Cole.
2.A Dictionary of Entomology
George Gordh, David H. Headrick. 2003. CABI Publishing.
Contributed by Cotinis on 24 May, 2007 - 10:06pm
Last updated 19 February, 2009 - 8:30pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact