Termite queens close the sperm gates of eggs to switch from sexual to asexual reproduction

To clarify the evolution of parthenogenesis, given the potential sexual conflict over genetic transmission, identifying the mechanism regulating egg fertilization in females is essential. In the termite Reticulitermes speratus, queens produce their replacements (neotenic queens) parthenogenetically but use sexual reproduction to produce other colony members. We discovered that queens of the termite close micropyles (openings for sperm entry) of their eggs to produce parthenogenetic offspring in the presence of kings. Furthermore, we found that queens control the proportion of micropyleless eggs by regulating of the number of micropyles over time. This study describes a novel route of the evolution of parthenogenesis in favor of females' interests without interference from males.