Endopterygota

Translingual right|thumb|Inachis io species (Lepidoptera order), emerging from a chrysalis (pupa) Etymology From mul endo- within pterygo- wing -ota having, reflecting the fact that the nymphs (larvae) of winged species bear their wing rudiments internally; compare Exopterygota superorder. Proper noun superorder infraclass Neoptera various winged insects that undergo radical metamorphosis Usage notes Endopterygota typically undergo a "complete" metamorphosis, during which their wings develop internally during the pupal phase and appear in the emerging adult. The grouping is thus also called Holometabola superorder. Contrast this with the Exopterygota superorder (in which the wings develop externally and the pupal stage is omitted) and Apterygota subclass (which are primitively wingless). Note that fleas, for example, are not primitively wingless, but are descended from winged insects. The complete metamorphosic life cycle is: egg → larva → pupa → adult or imago. Synonyms superorder Holometabola superorder See also Amphiesmenoptera class Lepidoptera order (butterflies and moths) Trichoptera order (caddisfly) Coleoptera order (beetles) Diptera order (flies, mosquitos and gnats) Hymenoptera order (wasps, bees and ants) Mecoptera order (scorpion flies) Megaloptera order (alderflies) †Miomoptera order Neuroptera order (lacewings etc) Raphidioptera order Siphonaptera order (fleas) References 8243 Endopterygota 1 mul Insects