Reproduction

Definition

The biological process by which organisms produce offspring, encompassing mechanisms that generate new individuals from genetic material of one (asexual) or two (sexual) parents. In arthropods, reproduction involves diverse modalities including parthenogenesis, oviparity, viviparity, and complex mating systems, with life-history strategies tightly coupled to ecological constraints such as seasonality, resource availability, and mate-finding challenges.

Etymology

Latin re- (again) + producere (to bring forth)

Example

Aphids (Aphididae) switch from asexual parthenogenesis—producing live female clones—to sexual reproduction and egg-laying in autumn, responding to photoperiod cues that signal deteriorating conditions.

Synonyms

• procreation
• propagation
• breeding

Related Terms

• Parthenogenesis
• oviparity
• viviparity
• mating system
• Life history
• Fecundity
• Fitness
• Gamete
• Fertilization
• development

Usage Notes

Specialists distinguish reproduction (the production of offspring) from related processes such as mating behavior or gamete formation. The term is absolute in population biology (reproductive success) but relative in comparative studies (reproductive effort, reproductive value). In entomology, reproductive mode is a key diagnostic trait: many parasitoid wasps are arrhenotokous (males from unfertilized eggs), while some mites and insects are thelytokous (all-female lineages). Avoid using 'reproduction' loosely for cellular replication or viral propagation unless context is explicit.