Alloparenting

Pronunciation: /al-oh-PAIR-en-ting/

Category: Behavior

Singular: Alloparenting

Plural: Alloparentings

Definition

A form of parental care provided by individuals other than the biological parents, often seen in social insects like ants, bees, and wasps, where workers help in caring for the offspring of the queen.

Etymology

Derived from Greek 'allo-', meaning 'other', and 'parenting', from 'parent', indicating care provided by non-parent individuals.

Example

In the eusocial structure of honeybee hives, alloparenting is exhibited by worker bees that feed and care for the larvae.

Synonyms

Non-parental care
Auxiliary care

Related Terms

Eusociality
Colony
Worker
Queen
Brood care

Usage Notes

Alloparenting is a significant aspect of the cooperative breeding system typical in social insects and contributes to the success of the colony's reproductive efforts.