hemimetabolous Describing insect development in which there is incomplete or partial metamorphosis, typically with successive immature stages increasingly resembling the adult. For instance, rudimentary wings are usually apparent, at least in later stages. It is characteristic of the exopterygote insect orders. The immature stages of hemimetabolous species are called nymphs. Compare ametabolous; holometabolous.

hemimetabolous Applied to those insects in which the adult form is attained by a series of moults, and metamorphosis is incomplete. All the immature stages are called nymphs.