imágó

Imago is the final, sexually mature developmental stage in the life cycle of many insects that undergo metamorphosis. The term comes from Latin imago, meaning image or likeness, and in entomology it denotes the adult form capable of reproduction. The concept helps distinguish the adult from earlier life stages such as eggs, larvae, and pupae.

In insects with complete metamorphosis (holometabolism), the life cycle follows egg, larva, pupa, and imago. The imago bears the mature organs needed for reproduction and often for dispersal. In insects with incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabolism), the final molt yields an imago that is usually more similar to the larval stages, though it possesses fully developed reproductive organs.

Most imagos have wings and winged adults play a key role in dispersal, mate finding, and exploitation of new habitats. However, some species have reduced or absent wings or display wingless imagos due to evolutionary adaptation or environmental conditions. The duration of the imago stage varies widely among species, from a few days to several months, and its primary function is reproduction, with many species exhibiting courtship and mating flights.

Examples of groups with a clearly defined imago include Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Coleoptera (beetles), Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants), and Diptera (true flies). In broader zoological use, imago can refer to the adult form of an organism after metamorphosis, not limited to insects.

Overall, the imago represents the culmination of development where reproductive maturity and dispersal capabilities are typically realized.