Figure 3: Schematic diagram of asexual queen succession as found in some Reticulitermes termites.
From: Sex ratio biases in termites provide evidence for kin selection
(a) Life history of the species with asexual queen succession (AQS). PK, primary king; PQ; primary queen; SQ, secondary queen; P, parthenogenesis; S, sexual reproduction. (b) Genetic scheme for the breeding system with AQS. Queens are able to reproduce sexually and also asexually. Offspring produced by sexual reproduction develop into workers, soldiers and alates, whereas those produced by parthenogenesis (automixis with terminal fusion) exclusively differentiate into female neotenics and supplement or replace the older queens. Secondary queens also produce the next replacement queens by parthenogenesis. Thus, the primary queens retain their genetic contribution to the next generation even after their death. Squares indicate males and circles indicate females.
