Exopterygota

Exopterygota refers to a suborder of insects within the order Holometabolism, characterized by a body structure where the hind wings are typically more resistant and less flexible than the fore wings. This is in contrast to the endopterygote insects, such as butterflies and moths, which have the hind wings more similar in structure and texture to the fore wings.

Exopterygota is a paraphyletic group, encompassing various orders of insects that undergo a type of incomplete metamorphosis. This process involves several juvenile stages, such as egg, several distinct larval stages, and a pupal stage, before the final adult stage is reached. One of the primary distinguishing features of exopterygote insects is the fact that the change from the juvenile form to the adult form occurs without a significant reduction in the external structure of the body.

Examples of exopterygote orders include Hemiptera, which includes true bugs, and Orthoptera, which includes grasshoppers and crickets. Some specimens of exopterygote insects exhibit aromatization, a phenomenon where the larvae undergo a series of moults, but the remains of previous exoskeletons persist, externally in whole or in part. In some instances, the external morphology might mask the full extent of the changes associated with development.