I can tell that it is mostly prevalent in mammals, but if there are any, what are some examples of insects, and how do they care for their young?
In: Biology
Yes! Many insects engage in a parental care.
Ants are a good(ish) example, they take very good care of their eggs and larva, including cleaning them to make sure they are free of parasites and fungus, and feeding them. Though technically it isn’t the parents doing that, since the queen doesn’t do the cleaning.
Giant water bugs will carry their eggs on their back to keep them safe from predators.
Many species of wasp will secure a food source for their babies by paralyzing another insect for the larva to eat.
Cockroaches are actually quite social and will engage in group child care, regurgitating food for their young to eat which is essential for forming their gut microbiome.
While not insects, many spider species care for their young. Scorpions are well known for it!
Definitely! Some insects, like earwigs, actually show quite a bit of parental care. The mother earwig will guard her eggs and even clean them to prevent mold. Once they hatch, she’ll continue to protect and feed her young until they can fend for themselves. It shows that parental care isn’t just a mammal thing!
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