Which of the following insects exhibits incomplete metamorphosis?

Insects that exhibit incomplete metamorphosis undergo three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Unlike complete metamorphosis, which includes larval and pupal stages, the nymph stage resembles a smaller version of the adult. Dragonflies are an excellent example of this type of development.

From the egg, dragonflies hatch into nymphs, which live in water and gradually grow, molting several times until they reach adulthood. As they mature, nymphs develop traits characteristic of the adult dragonfly, such as wings and reproductive organs, but they do so without transitioning through a distinctly different larval stage or a pupa. This direct progression from nymph to adult is what characterizes incomplete metamorphosis.

Other insects such as flies, ants, and beetles undergo complete metamorphosis, involving a distinct larval stage followed by a pupal stage before emerging as adults. This fundamental difference in their development processes is key in distinguishing which of these insects displays incomplete metamorphosis.