Imago

In <a href="/facts/Biology/1M1ee3pB">biology</a>, the imago (<a href="/facts/Latin/pM3Kge85">Latin</a> for "image") is the last stage an <a href="/facts/Insect/IgDNvnUL">insect</a> attains during its <a href="/facts/Metamorphosis/nKDTSjsK">metamorphosis</a>, its process of growth and development; it is also called the imaginal stage ("imaginal" being "imago" in adjective form), the stage in which the insect attains maturity. It follows the final <a href="/facts/Ecdysis/P4SN14xI">ecdysis</a> of the immature <a href="/facts/Instar/KRIfCFIn">instars</a>.
In a member of the <a href="/facts/Apterygota/PXJmCqEL">Ametabola</a> or <a href="/facts/Hemimetabolism/r30w37uA">Hemimetabola</a>, species in which metamorphosis is "incomplete", the final ecdysis follows the last immature or <a href="/facts/Nymph_(biology)/3LjQyPSG">nymphal</a> stage. In members of the <a href="/facts/Holometabola/8ErqpgDW">Holometabola</a>, in which there is a pupal stage, the final ecdysis follows emergence from the <a href="/facts/Pupa/0u7NE8Cq">pupa</a>, 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 is <a href="/facts/Sexual_maturity/VL3SueFf">sexually mature</a> and, if it is a <a href="/facts/Insect_wing/e9v05xWY">winged</a> species, the only stage that has functional wings. The imago often is referred to as the adult stage.
Members of the order <a href="/facts/Mayfly/g2eXU34K">Ephemeroptera</a> (mayflies) do not have a pupal stage, but they briefly pass through an intermediate winged stage called the <a href="/facts/Subimago/g2eXU34K">subimago</a>. Insects at this stage have functional wings but are not yet sexually mature. 
The Latin plural of imago is imagines, and this is the term generally used by <a href="/facts/Entomology/zTtUNTWm">entomologists</a> when a plural form is required –however, imagoes is also acceptable.

Imago open-in-new

Imago