A group or class of insects that do not undergo metamorphosis, characterized by direct development without distinct pupal stages.
From Greek a- (not) + metabole (change, transformation). This is a zoological term used to classify insects based on their developmental patterns.
Insects like silverfish and springtails are ametabola — they don't have the dramatic transformation that caterpillars do, reminding us that metamorphosis is actually the special case in insects, not the rule!
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