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Glossary of biological terms: H A
B C D
E F G
H I J
K L M
N O P
Q R S
T U V
W X Y
Z
hemimetabolous (insects).
These insects have a simple metamorphosis without a pupal stage. As they grow
bigger, the immature forms go through a series of moults and steadily become
more like the adult. These immature forms are usually referred to as nymphs.
Examples of hemimetabolous insects include dragonflies,
cockroaches, termites,
grasshoppers, bugs
and lice. Other insects have a holometabolous
metamorphosis.
holometabolous
(insects). These insects have a complete metamorphosis with a pupal stage. The
immature stages, termed larvae, look entirely different to the adults. As they
grow bigger, the larvae moult a number of times but each new instar (the stage
between two consecutive moults) looks no more similar to the adult than the
previous one. At the end of the final instar, the larva moults into a pupa,
sometimes first spinning a silken cocoon round itself for protection. In the
pupal stage certain larval structures are broken down, and new structures such
as wings are produced. Examples of holometabolous insects include beetles,
butterflies and moths (larvae are
called caterpillars), flies (grub-like
larvae are termed maggots) and Hymenoptera
(ants, bees and wasps). Other insects have an incomplete or hemimetabolous
metamorphosis.
hyperparasite /
hyperparasitoid (insects). A parasitoid whose host is another parasitoid.
hypha, pl. hyphae (fungi).
A filament or thread of a fungus. A branched network of hyphae is called a mycelium.
text by Hamish Robertson
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