What is a key difference between insects that undergo NO metamorphosis and those that undergo COMPLETE metamorphosis?

The key difference highlighted in the correct answer is that insects undergoing no metamorphosis, also known as ametabolous insects, do not change form as they mature. These insects emerge from their eggs resembling miniature adults and grow through a series of molts, gradually increasing in size but not undergoing significant changes in body structure. This process contrasts sharply with insects that experience complete metamorphosis, which go through distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. During these stages, the larva dramatically differs in form and function from the adult, indicating a significant developmental transformation.

Understanding this fundamental aspect of insect development is critical for recognizing how life cycles can vary among different insect groups. While it is true that complete metamorphosis includes a larval stage, that specific detail does not address the broader concept of structural changes during maturation that characterize each category of metamorphosis.