Why is holometabolism so successful?

This is true! But I think it is striking that four of our five most diverse insect orders (flies, beetles, moths/butterflies, and wasp/bees/ants) are holometabolous (the fifth is true bugs, which are hemimetabolous). The innovation of complete metamorphosis was followed by an explosion of diversity. Seems to me that they’re doing something right!

4 Likes