Philanthus
Philanthus sand wasps mating. California, USA
Orasema
Eucharitid wasps mating. Insects of this family are parasites of ant brood. Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
Hyalophora cecropia
The feathery antennae of male cecropia moths are so sensitive that they can detect a few molecules of female pheromone. Urbana, Illinois, USA
A pair of Hyalophora cecropia moths mating on the female's empty cocoon. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Close-up of silkworm moths mating. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Dindymus versicolor
This common southeastern Australian insect is fondly called "the sex beetle" for its conspicuous pairings. Tower Hill Reserve, Victoria, Australia.
Rhagoletis
In a laboratory cage, two male Rhagoletis walnut flies joust over access to females. University of Arizona. filename: Rhagoletis8
Apterobittacus apterus - wingless hangingfly
Courtship in hangingflies involves the male (bottom left) capturing a prey item and presenting it as a gift to the female. Hastings Reserve, Carmel Valley, California.
Courtship in hangingflies involves the male (bottom left) capturing a prey item and presenting it as a gift to the female. Hastings Reserve, Carmel Valley, California, USA.
Acromyrmex versicolor
Male leaf-cutting ants congregate above the desert floor, awaiting virgin queens who fly into the swarm to mate. This species flies during the Arizona summer monsoon season, early in the morning after a soaking rain. Tucson, Arizona, USA
A mating ball of desert leaf-cutter ants. These balls form after a young,unmated queen flies to a swarm of male ants and drops to the ground in a competitive frenzy of potential mates. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Gammarotettix
A female arboreal camel cricket consumes a male's spermatophore after mating, a resource-rich secretion that helps her create more and healthier eggs. Hastings Reserve, Carmel Valley, California, USA.
Cimex lectularius
Bed bugs have an unusual style of mating called traumatic insemination. Males, instead of aiming for the female genital opening, pierce her armor and inject sperm directly into the body cavity. This behavior causes some damage to the females but is thought to help males outcompete each others' sperm. Laboratory culture at the University of Kentucky.
Bed bugs mating. Laboratory culture at the University of Kentucky.
A male and a blood-engorged female bed bug mate in a lab culture at the University of Kentucky.
Loxocera cylindrica
A pair of mating rust flies. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Lauxaniidae
A mating pair of small Lauxaniid flies in an Ecuadorian cloud forest. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.
Staphylinidae
In an impressive display of multi-tasking, a rove beetle mates while hunting an injured ant. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.
