The Space Pirates did create some clones, but less than I expected. It was not until recently I pieced why.

It seems this "Dark Hunter" intends to turn it into another creature like itself. It thus stopped the cloning process after a few dozen.

I do not know the reason. Perhaps it desires the birthing power it lost, since Pirate scientists determined the larva to be Queen-capable. Perhaps it feels some sort of twisted "kinship" for it, both being of metroid ascendance.