See text Endopterygota Sharp, 1898 Holometabola (from Ancient Greek holo- "complete" + metabolḗ "change"), also known as Endopterygota (from endo- "inner" + ptéryg- "wing" + Neo-Latin -ota "-having"), is a supra-ordinal clade of insects within the infraclass Neoptera that go through distinctive larval, pupal, and adult stages.

They undergo a radical metamorphosis, with the larval and adult stages differing considerably in their structure and behaviour.

[3] The Holometabola are sometimes divided into three assemblages: Neuropterida (Neuroptera, Megaloptera, Raphidioptera, Strepsiptera and Coleoptera), Hymenopteroida (Hymenoptera), and Panorpida (Siphonaptera, Diptera, Trichoptera, Lepidoptera and Mecoptera).

[4] Hymenoptera (sawflies, wasps, ants, bees) Raphidioptera (snakeflies) Megaloptera (alderflies and allies) Neuroptera (Lacewings and allies) Coleoptera (beetles) Strepsiptera (twisted-wing parasites) Trichoptera (caddisflies) Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths) Diptera (true flies) Mecoptera (scorpionflies) Siphonaptera (fleas) The Endopterygota are distinguished from the Exopterygota by the way in which their wings develop.

The latter trait is plesiomorphic, however, as it is found also in groups such as Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), which are not Neoptera, but more basal among insects.