Hypermetamorphosis

As a hyper- metamorphosis a form of ontogenetic development is referred to in the change the morphological features in the course of individual development of an animal several times fundamentally. It is thus a development of multiple metamorphosis. It occurs mainly in insects and other invertebrates that colonize different habitats during different larval stages. Especially often one meets the Hyper metamorphosis in temporary parasites, as these usually form still a propagation stage and the adult form in addition to the parasitic form. Known cases are about blister beetles, catch Exemplary or chalcids.

In entomology animals are occasionally combined with hyper- metamorphoses as Hypermetabola. It is accordingly not a family relationship, but a related exclusively to this feature ecological grouping.