endopterygotes

Endopterygotes, also known as Neoptera, represent a significant infraclass of insects within the subclass Pterygota, characterized by their complete metamorphosis. This developmental process, known as holometabolism, involves distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larval stage is typically worm-like and dissimilar to the adult, while the pupal stage is a non-feeding, quiescent phase during which radical transformation occurs. Upon emerging from the pupa, the adult insect is fully formed and reproductively capable.

The most defining feature of endopterygotes is the development of their wings. Unlike exopterygote insects, where wing buds are visible externally on the nymph and grow progressively larger with each molt, endopterygote wings develop internally within a pupal casing. These developing wings are enclosed in specialized sacs and undergo complete reorganization and growth during the pupal stage, emerging fully formed and functional in the adult.

This infraclass encompasses the vast majority of insect species and includes well-known orders such as Coleoptera (beetles), Diptera (flies), Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps), and Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). The evolutionary success of endopterygotes is attributed to their ability to exploit diverse ecological niches due to the specialized roles of their larval and adult stages, with larvae often focusing on feeding and growth while adults are primarily concerned with reproduction and dispersal.