What characterizes insects that undergo incomplete metamorphosis?

Insects that undergo incomplete metamorphosis display a life cycle that includes three primary stages: egg, nymph, and adult. One of the distinguishing features of this type of metamorphosis is that the young, referred to as nymphs, closely resemble the adults, albeit smaller and often less developed in reproductive structures. This similarity allows them to occupy similar ecological niches as their adult counterparts, sharing the same feeding habitats and even engaging in similar behaviors.

The nymphs gradually develop into adults through a series of molts, where they grow and acquire the characteristics of the adult phase, such as wings and full reproductive capabilities. This is in contrast to complete metamorphosis, where there is a distinct larval stage that looks significantly different from the adult form. Insects undergoing incomplete metamorphosis do not go through a drastic transformation, which makes their life cycle more direct, further emphasizing the shared traits between the nymphs and adults.