Structural Pest Control Board Applicators Practice Exam 2025 – The Complete Guide to Exam Success

The life cycle characterized by gradual metamorphosis, also known as hemimetabolism, typically involves an insect developing through several stages including egg, nymph, and adult without significant changes in form. In this process, the young stages (nymphs) generally resemble smaller versions of the adult form throughout their development. As they molt and grow, nymphs undergo gradual changes but retain a fundamental resemblance to the adult, making the transition less dramatic compared to complete metamorphosis, where larvae look entirely different from adults.

The correct answer reflects this continuity in appearance throughout the life cycle stages, emphasizing that the adult insect maintains a resemblance to its younger stages. This characteristic is pivotal in distinguishing gradual metamorphosis from complete metamorphosis. In complete metamorphosis, the larval and adult stages are visually distinct, whereas, in gradual metamorphosis, the changes occur progressively, allowing for observable continuity in form.