female offspring

According to the company’s plans, female offspring produced by the modified insects die, causing the population to collapse.

But, while four or five-tonne males benefit from this maternal protection, female offspring do not receive the same attention.

Virgin birth, which usually results in female offspring, is thought to be triggered in several situations.

In contrast, researchers found no evidence that raising female offspring — who achieve complete independence from their parent and do not demand continued feeding as adults — reduce a mother’s future reproductive chances.

But while young female offspring become independent in adulthood, males depend on their mothers - even demanding a share of the food that their matriarchs catch.