<P> Parthenogenesis (/ ˌpɑːrθɪnoʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪs, - θɪnə - /; from the Greek παρθένος parthenos, "virgin", + γένεσις genesis, "creation") is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization . In animals, parthenogenesis means development of an embryo from an unfertilized egg cell . In plants parthenogenesis is a component process of apomixis . </P> <P> Parthenogenesis occurs naturally in some plants, some invertebrate animal species (including nematodes, water fleas, some scorpions, aphids, some mites, some bees, some Phasmida and parasitic wasps) and a few vertebrates (such as some fish, amphibians, reptiles and very rarely birds). This type of reproduction has been induced artificially in a few species including fish and amphibians . </P>

When queen ants or honeybees are able to reproduce asexually (without mating) this is called