Insect Mating Behavior

Insect mating behavior is among the most bizarre in the animal world. In most insect species, males are in intense competition with each other to fertilize a limited number of extremely choosy receptive females. This leads to intense competition among males and the outcome is a remarkable diversity of mating strategies, tactics, and morphologies. I will present a survey of insect mating systems, some involving perfumes (worn both by males and females), prolonged copulation (sometimes several days to a week), territorial defense and dispute, battles to the death, sperm plugs and chastity belts, hypodermic insemination, sexual role reversals, and gift giving. Shocking, but true!

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