Cyclical Polymorphism
- Pronunciation
- /ˈsiklɪkəl ˌpälēˈmôrˌfizəm/
- Category
- Behavior
- Plural
- Cyclical Polymorphisms
Definition
A type of polymorphism where distinct morphs or phenotypes occur in a population of an insect species on a cyclical basis, often correlated with seasonal changes or host plant availability.
Etymology
Derived from Greek 'kyklos' meaning circle, and 'polymorphos' meaning having many forms.
Example
Cyclical polymorphism is observed in some aphid species, where they alternate between winged and wingless morphs depending on environmental cues.