Relating to or exhibiting incomplete metamorphosis, where insects gradually develop wings and adult features through multiple molts rather than in a pupal stage.
From 'hemimetabola' with the adjectival suffix '-ic.' This descriptor became standard in entomological texts in the 20th century to classify insect development patterns.
Calling insects 'hemimetabolic' is like saying they're 'half-transformers'—and it's scientifically brilliant because it captures exactly what's different: they skip the dramatic chrysalis stage and just keep slowly remodeling themselves.
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