noun
- individuals in a colony or group that are capable of reproduction, especially in social insects like ants, bees, or termites
Usage: biology; entomology
Examples
- The ant colony’s reproductives include the queen and male drones.
- During swarming season, the reproductives leave the nest to establish new colonies.
- Scientists studied the behavior of reproductives in the termite mound.
- The reproductives are responsible for continuing the species.
- Worker bees protect the reproductives within the hive.
- Only a small percentage of the colony consists of reproductives.