Entom. [SUB- 22.] In Ephemeridæ, the stage immediately preceding the imago, before the final pellicle has been cast; the insect at this stage. Also called pseudimago (see PSEUDO- 2).
1861. H. Hagen, Synopsis Neuroptera N. Amer., 343. Subimago, a state of Ephemera, &c., wherein the wings, &c., are covered with a membrane, which is cast off when it becomes an Imago.
1864. Intell. Obs., No. 33. 148. The immature sub-imago of the May-fly.
1889. Cholmondeley-Pennell, Fishing, 376. They avoid the subimago, and keep on feeding on the nymph.
1897. Daily News, 27 July, 8/1. The sober-tinted Iron Blue Dun again, is the imperfect form, or sub-imago, of the Jenny Spinner.
Hence Subimaginal a., belonging to or characteristic of the subimago.
1878. Encycl. Brit., VIII. 458/1. The cast sub-imaginal skins of these insects.
