American Journal of Zoological Research, 2016, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1-6 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajzr/4/1/1 © Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/ajzr-4-1-1 Reproductive and Survival Strategies Utilized by Insect. A Review Okore Oghale O’woma., Ubiaru Prince Chigozirim. * , Onyenwe Emmanuel, Ekedo Mathias. Chukwuebuka Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia Abia State, Nigeria *Corresponding author: Ubiaru.prince@gmail.com Abstract Insects are the most diverse and abundant of all groups of animals despite their small sizes and vulnerability as they employ many specialized strategies during reproduction. They have high reproductive rates and numerous behavioural and physiological adaptations that assure them a fair fight in the struggle for survival. They have different means of attracting mates prior to copulation such as serenades, dances, foreplay, nuptial gifts, aphrodisiac and visual signals. Survival strategies such as bi-parental care, maternal care, paternal care, hygienic behaviour, migration, diapauses, parthenogenesis and polymorphism are exhibited by insects which give them an advantage for surviving in their environment. Humanity and other living organisms will have difficulties in surviving if all insects fail to utilize their reproductive and survival strategies and suddenly disappear. Keywords: insect, reproductive strategy, survival strategy and copulation Cite This Article: Okore Oghale O’woma., Ubiaru Prince Chigozirim., Onyenwe Emmanuel, and Ekedo Mathias. Chukwuebuka, “Reproductive and Survival Strategies Utilized by Insect. A Review.” American Journal of Zoological Research, vol. 4, no. 1 (2016): 1-6. doi: 10.12691/ajzr-4-1-1. 1. Introduction Reproduction is the biological process by which new individual organisms are produced from their parents [1]. It is a fundamental feature of all known life. There are two forms of reproduction: Sexual and asexual reproduction. In sexual reproduction, two reproductive cells (male and female) organisms called gametes which contain half the number of chromosomes of normal cells are created by meiosis and the male gamete fertilizes the female gamete of the same species to create a fertilized zygote. This produces an offspring whose genetic make-ups are derived from those of the two parental organisms. In asexual reproduction, an organism can reproduce without the involvement of another organism creating a genetically similar or identical copy of itself. The two fundamental modes of reproduction are obtained in insect thus ensuring their rapid increase in numbers [1]. Despite insects’ small sizes and apparent vulnerability, they are the most diverse and abundant of all groups of animals because they employed many special strategies during reproduction [2]. They are equipped with high reproductive rates and numerous behavioural and physiological adaptations that assure them a fair fight in the struggle for survival. With these they survive rainstorms, windstorms, and ice storms [3]. They are able to find water in the desiccating heat of mid-summer, avoid flash floods and wildfires. They locate mates and a suitable food supply; elude birds, spiders, frogs and other predators. They also defend themselves against infection by pathogenic fungi and microorganism [3]. Insects have various means of attracting mates prior to copulation such as the use of serenades, dances and foreplay, nuptial gifts, aphrodisiac and visual signals. Examples are seen in female moth who gives off a powerful pheromone that can be detected from a great distance by the male and in fireflies that use flashes of light. Parental cares such as paternal and maternal parental care also exist among the insects to ensure their survival. This could be in form of supplying physical substances or materials to their offsprings and protection of the egg. 2. Importance of Sexual and Asexual Reproduction • To maintain a unique identity of a species and addition of new individuals in a population. • It leads to production of genetically copies of organisms through asexual means. • New species facilitate evolution of organisms which is necessary for survival as environmental conditions keep on changing from time to time. • To create variations in species as no two individuals are the same, as genetic characters from both parents will help make a slightly different copy of themselves. These small variations accumulate over hundreds of years resulting in formation of new species. 3. Reproductive System of Insect The reproductive system in male and female insects consists of a pair of germinal tubes, a pair of ducts and a