All extant aphids are cyclically parthenogenetic, which means that they seasonally alternate between one or several female parthenogenetic generations in which unfertilized eggs develop into females, and a sexual generation in which oocytes must be fertilized by male sperm.

What is parthenogenesis in insect?

Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction whereby offspring are produced without the embryo being fertilised by a male. ... Other insects capable of reproducing parthenogenetically include some species of aphid, ant, bee and parasitic wasp. Many aphids reproduce parthenogenetically.

How does parthenogenesis work in aphids?

Thelytokous parthenogenesis by females produces only adult diploid (2n) females from unfertilized eggs, but no males. Female aphids seem to have 'diploid parthenogenesis' because there is no reduction division, and development starts from a cell with a complete set of chromosomes including the XX sex chromosomes.