Neosomy designates external transformation, with formation of new cuticle, during an active stadium in a group normally metamorphosing by molts. The process is more widespread than formerly supposed, and examples are given of a variety of insects, acarines, and crustaceans. It is usually a concomitant of parasitism or other symbiotic relationships, or intraspecific social relationships with an adaptive parallel to symbiosis. The evolutionary significance of neosomy is discussed.
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Audy et al. (1972) studied this question.
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