Dragonflies and damselflies undergo what type of metamorphosis?

Dragonflies and damselflies undergo incomplete metamorphosis, which is characterized by three life stages: egg, nymph (or larva), and adult. In this developmental process, the nymphs resemble smaller versions of the adults but lack fully developed wings. As they grow, nymphs go through multiple molts, gradually increasing in size and completing their development into mature adults.

Incomplete metamorphosis differs from complete metamorphosis, which involves four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Incomplete metamorphosis lacks a pupal stage, thus making it more straightforward in its developmental progression. Dragonflies and damselflies are specifically adapted to their environments in different ways that are evident throughout their nymph stages and support their survival and predatory roles in aquatic ecosystems.

Direct development refers to a developmental process where organisms hatch from eggs as miniature adults without undergoing a larval stage, which is not applicable to dragonflies and damselflies. Their growth and development can be clearly identified through the nymphal stages leading to the adult form, supporting the classification of their life cycle under incomplete metamorphosis.