Haplodiploid is a sex determination system in which females develop from fertilized, diploid eggs containing two sets of chromosomes, while males develop from unfertilized, haploid eggs containing a single set of chromosomes. This system is characteristic of insects in the order Hymenoptera, including ants, bees, and many wasps.
Haplodiploidy influences reproduction, genetics, and colony structure. Because haploid males inherit all of their genes from their mother, relatedness within colonies differs from that of species with typical male and female diploid inheritance. Many parasitoid wasps used in biological pest control also reproduce through haplodiploidy, allowing females to control the sex of their offspring by choosing whether or not to fertilize an egg.
See Also
