Exopterygota

Translingual Etymology From mul exo- outside pterygo- wing -ota having, reflecting the fact that the nymphs (larvae) of winged species bear their wing rudiments externally; compare Endopterygota superorder. Proper noun superorder class Insecta various winged insects that undergo incomplete metamorphosis Usage notes Not commonly used. The Exopterygota differ from the Endopterygota in that they generally undergo an "incomplete" metamorphosis. Their life cycle typically lacks a clearly defined pupal phase. In winged species the nymphs (larvae) generally bear external wing rudiments, which immature members of the Endopterygota do not. The Exopterygota life cycle is: egg → larva or nymph → adult or imago. The transformation from larva to adult is gradual and proceeds by moulting. For comparison, the complete metamorphosic life cycle is: egg → larva → pupa → adult or imago. Synonyms superorder Hemipterodea superorder Hyponyms superorder Blattodea order (cockroaches), Dermaptera order (earwigs), Embioptera (webspinners), Hemiptera order (true bugs), Isoptera (termites), Mantodea order (mantids), Notoptera (ice-crawler s and gladiators), Orthoptera order (grasshoppers, etc.), Phasmida order (stick insects), Phthiraptera order (lice), Plecoptera order (stoneflies), Psocoptera order (booklouse, barklouse), Thysanoptera order (thrips), Zoraptera (angel insect) orders See also exopterygote References