Explanation of Names
From Latin alatus, winged.
Identification
alate noun, singular, plural
alates - winged; furnished with wings, or with projecting bodies resembling wings. Usually refers to the winged, sexual stage of
eusocial insects, such as ants and termites, which do not have wings at most stages of their life cycle. May also refer to the winged form of some grasshoppers that are usually flightless, though these are more frequently called
macropterous.
Closely related term: alatae noun, plural -the winged stage of normally flightless insects, such as ants, termites, and aphids.
Examples of alates among ants:
Examples of alates among termites:
