Tapeworm Reproduction: Do They Self-Fertilize?

No, tapeworms do not fertilize their own eggs. They are hermaphrodites, meaning that they have both male and female reproductive organs. However, they must still mate with another tapeworm in order to reproduce. During mating, the two tapeworms exchange sperm, and each worm fertilizes the eggs of the other. The fertilized eggs are then released into the environment, where they can develop into new tapeworms.