The biological process of incomplete metamorphosis in insects, characterized by gradual development and multiple molting stages without a pupal form.
From 'hemimetabolic' combined with the suffix '-ism' (denoting a process, state, or system). This nominalized form allows discussion of the developmental phenomenon as a complete biological system.
Hemimetabolism reveals that nature isn't binary—insects didn't have to choose between 'no change' and 'total transformation'; many found a middle path of gradual self-improvement that works beautifully.
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