Ronald E. Kiel

Alate insects are winged forms; apterous insects are wingless forms. The difference is most useful when comparing reproductive ants and termites, winged versus wingless aphids, or insects that are naturally wingless. In entomology, alate usually means an adult form with wings, often tied to dispersal or reproduction, while apterous means without wings, either because the […]

An alate is a winged form. In entomology, the word usually refers to the winged reproductive stage of social insects such as ants and termites, and it is also used for winged aphids. The same word appears in botany for plant parts with wings or wing-like expansions, including some seeds and fruits. The meaning depends