Imago

For other uses, seeImago (disambiguation).

Lastmoltingof acicadagiving rise to the winged imago

Inbiology,theimago(Latinfor "image" ) is the last stage aninsectattains during itsmetamorphosis,its process of growth and development; it is also called theimaginalstage ( "imaginal" being "imago" in adjective form), the stage in which the insect attains maturity. It follows the finalecdysisof the immatureinstars.

In a member of theAmetabolaorHemimetabola,species in which metamorphosis is "incomplete", the final ecdysis follows the last immature ornymphalstage. In members of theHolometabola,in which there is a pupal stage, the final ecdysis follows emergence from thepupa,after which the metamorphosis is complete, although there is a prolonged period of maturation in some species.

The imago is the only stage during which the insect issexually matureand, if it is awingedspecies, the only stage that has functional wings. The imago often is referred to as theadultstage.

Members of the orderEphemeroptera(mayflies) do not have a pupal stage, but they briefly pass through an intermediate winged stage called thesubimago.Insects at this stage have functional wings but are not yet sexually mature.

The Latin plural ofimagoisimagines,and this is the term generally used byentomologistswhen a plural form is required – however,imagoesis also acceptable.

See also

• Imaginal disc

External links

• Media related toImago (biology)at Wikimedia Commons
• The dictionary definition ofimagoat Wiktionary
• Arenas-Mena, C. (2010) Indirect development, transdifferentiation and the macroregulatory evolution of metazoans. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. Feb 27, 2010 Vol.365 no.1540 653–669