Insects that lay eggs are referred to as?

Insects that lay eggs are referred to as oviparous. This term specifically describes organisms that reproduce by laying eggs, with the embryos developing outside the mother's body. Oviparous species may lay their eggs in various environments, and some may provide care or protection until the eggs hatch, while others abandon the eggs altogether.

The other terms refer to different reproductive strategies. Viviparous organisms, for example, give live birth rather than laying eggs. Ovoviviparous refers to species that have eggs that hatch inside the mother's body, resulting in live birth without direct nourishment from the mother. Gonochoric pertains to species that have distinct male and female individuals, rather than a reproductive method itself. Understanding these definitions helps clarify the reproductive strategies found within the insect world and emphasizes the specific process that characterizes oviparous organisms.