Male (top) and female western hercules beetles (Dynastes granti) on their host plant, an ash tree.

Arizona, USA
Male ants are specialized for mating and dispersal and often appear vastly different from their sisters. The little winged insect at center is a  male Odontomachus sp. trap-jaw ant; the rest are female workers.

Cambodia (Laboratory colony at the University of Illinois)
Male ants are specialized for mating and dispersal and often appear vastly different from their sisters. The little winged insect at center is a  male Odontomachus sp. trap-jaw ant; the rest are female workers.

Cambodia (Laboratory colony at the University of Illinois)
Male brentid weevils are often considerably larger, with a disproportionately longer snout, than females.  This is a mating pair.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
Diapheromera femorata - Northern Walking Stick, male and female.

Illinois, USA
Female (left) and male cicada parasite beetles, Sandalus niger.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Aphaenogaster picea.  Male ants (with wings) are rather different beasts than their sisters.  They exist solely to disperse the colony's genes, and perform no other work in the nest.

South Bristol, New York, USA
Aphaenogaster picea.  Male ants (with wings) are rather different beasts than their sisters.  They exist solely to disperse the colony's genes, and perform no other work in the nest.

South Bristol, New York, USA
Male (top) and female western hercules beetles (Dynastes granti) on their host plant, an ash tree.

Arizona, USA
Male (top) and female western hercules beetles (Dynastes granti) on their host plant, an ash tree.

Arizona, USA
Male (top) and female western hercules beetles (Dynastes granti) on their host plant, an ash tree.

Arizona, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013