What is Metamorphosis?
'''Metamorphosis''' in [[biology]] means the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages. Good examples are [[insect]]s and [[amphibian]]s. Life for most insects begins as a [[larva]] or [[Nymph (biology)|nymph]] then progresses to the [[pupa]] stage and ends as an [[adult]].<ref name=Morph>{{cite journal|title=Complete metamorphosis of insects|author1=Jens Rolff|author2= Paul R. Johnston|author3= Stuart Reynolds|doi=10.1098/rstb.2019.0063|date=August 26, 2019|pmid= 31438816|volume=374|issue=1783|journal=Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. |pmc=6711294 |type=full text}}</ref> [[File:Cicada shedding.jpg|thumb|right|160px|A [[cicada]] in the process of shedding.]] Animals that metamorphose include [[tadpoles]] into [[frog]]s, [[caterpillars]] into [[butterfly]]s, and generally [[insect]] [[larva]] into adult insects. == Insects == [[File:Snodgrass Melanoplus atlanus.png|right|thumb|180px|Six stages of development, from newly hatched nymph to fully winged adult. (''Melanoplus sanguinipes'')]] There are two main types of metamorphosis in [[insect]]s: simple metamorphosis or ''hemimetabolism'', and complete metamorphosis or ''holometabolism''.<ref>Gullan P.J. & Cranston P.S. 2005. Life history patterns and phases in the insects. In ''An outline of entomology''. Blackwell, Oxford. 143-153</ref> === Simple metamorphosis or ''hemimetabolism'' === Insects who go through simple (or incomplete) metamorphosis have three life stages. These insects start as [[Egg (biology)|eggs]], which are usually very small. When the egg hatches, a larva or [[nymph (biology)|nymph]] comes out. Nymphs are just baby insects. Most of the time, the nymph looks similar to the adult, but it is smaller, may have different colouration, and does not have [[wing]]s. The nymph grows through stages called ''instars'', shedding its 'skin' (''epicuticle'') at each stage (''ecdysis''). Finally, it changes into a mature adult with wings. Some insect nymphs are [[aquatic]], which means they live in wate