The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word IMAGO
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
I
M
A
G
O
More clues leading to the result IMAGO
- Developed form of life — the writer’s, in the past
- I am about to fly, maybe
- Final stage of publication covered by satellite
- I am past the final stage of development
- Ideal notion of this person's past
- Shakespeare's ensign holds maiden to be idealized figure
- Unlimited time in the past for last phase of cricket?
- It’s matured and gone off? Initially, yes
- . I am adult fly perhaps
- Shakespearean ensign holding male, idealised view
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "a butterfly, for example" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case a butterfly, for example = imago.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does IMAGO mean?
IMAGO noun- The final developmental stage of an insect after undergoing metamorphosis.
- An idealised concept of a loved one, formed in childhood and retained unconsciously into adult life, the basis for the psychological formation of personality archetypes.