類別

昆蟲與蜘蛛（昆蟲）

參賽者

林宗彥

作品名稱

胎生的白尾紅蚜 Viviparous Aphid (Uroleucon formosanum)

科學圖說 Scientific introduction

一般我們印象中的昆蟲大多是卵生，然後經過數次蛻皮後變態為成蟲。白尾紅蚜雖然常見，生殖行為卻很不一樣，可以孤雌生殖，而且是胎生。照片為白尾紅蚜正在生小寶寶，整隻小紅蚜直接從媽媽肚子裡生出來，樣子跟成蟲沒有太大差別。

Most insects are oviparous which means they lay eggs. After molting several times, the immature insects undergo metamorphosis and emerge as adults. Although the aphid Uroleucon formosanum is common, it has a very different reproductive strategy. It is a parthenogenetic and viviparous insect, which means that a female can reproduce female offspring by giving birth to immature individuals directly, such as in this image. There is no large difference in external appearance between the immature insects and adult.