A pair of Hyalophora cecropia moths mating on the female's empty cocoon.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Eucharitid wasps mating. Insects of this family are parasites of ant brood.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
A young Lasius (Acanthomyops) interjectus gyne grooms herself before taking to the air on her mating flight.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A young Lasius (Acanthomyops) interjectus gyne grooms herself before taking to the air on her mating flight.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Olibrus shining flower beetles (Phalacridae) in a thistle flower.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Loxocera cylindrica (Psilidae) rust flies, mating.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
An egg emerges from the abdomen of a Northern Walking  Stick Diapheromera femorata.  The eggs fall to the forest floor where they overwinter before hatching.

Illinois, USA
A male harvester ant (Aphaenogaster albisetosa) launches himself on a morning mating flight.

Green Valley, Arizona, USA
Early morning sun catches a mating flight of Forelius mccooki in the Sonoran desert.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Eucharitid wasps mating. Insects of this family are parasites of ant brood.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
Eucharitid wasps mating. Insects of this family are parasites of ant brood.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
Eucharitid wasps mating. Insects of this family are parasites of ant brood.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013