👉 The term "homaloptera" is a scientific name that refers to a type of insect or other arthropod known for its ability to perform metamorphosis from an invertebrate (a type of animal) into a vertebrate (a type of mammal). This process is called "homing," which means "home" or "back." The term was derived from the Latin word "homalis," meaning "to go back, return to, or to return to."