#insect mating

[billionneuronscurious]

Turtle Beetles Mating.

[squire-jaybird]

[coolbugs]

Bug of the Day

I HAVE QUESTIONS

😲

(Herpetogramma, 1.25 of them anyway)

[sarahmackattack]

Happy Valentines Day

[your-beast0fburden]

@onenicebugperday technically, this is 2 bugs but check this shit out:

The thrust momentum after they’re done…

[miyrumiyru]

𓆸 Withering flowers, Blooming love ♡︎

[aussiebuggirl]

Just two butterflies doin like they do on the discovery channel

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Common Red Soldier Beetle - Rhagonycha fulva

Just like a few years ago, a small section of partial wilderness in my neighborhood continues to play host to many mating pairs of Common Red Solider Beetle. When otherwise unoccupied, these diligent insects will crawl along and fly among the many flowers and buds here (including thistle buds). While some individuals are keen to hang around, dozens of individuals in this area were on patrol for soft-bodied insects to eat, such as small Caterpillars and Aphids. That in mind, the Plagiognathus Plant Bug specie seen in Pictures 1, 4 and 7 shouldn't let its guard down completely. This is of course, adult behavior, as the larvae of this Soldier Beetle feed on other plant-visiting animals such as hungry mollusks. As they visit flowers, it's worth mentioning that the diet of the adults also includes nectar and pollen, hence them diving headfirst into some of these flowers. Based on these pictures, I'm mindful of a point I brought in the previous point, where I wondered how/if these insects could serve as pollinating insects. Research supports that these Beetles play a role in pollination of certain flowers, but I wonder how that role varies across different types of flowers.

Flowers come in all shapes, sizes and configurations, and all area designed to work with some range of pollinators. So how might our Common Red friends here potentially pollinate the more open faced flowers and tipped thistle flowers in these images? The Beetle's bodies don't appear as suited for the adherence and transfer of pollen (compared to other pollinators), but they don't make direct contact with the flower's face. With how the insect travels, pollen may be transferred if some bits are caught on the Beetle's feet or from their mandibles as they go in for a nectar reward. Honestly, I think I'll need to revisit these Beetles next year when they return during the summer months. When I do, I'll observe them more carefully and see where pollen collects along their body and see how it makes contact with another flower. Regretfully, while they were many to behold when I photographed them, there were far less 2 weeks later, as their adult lives aren't long. Do not misunderstand however, these Beetles can be seen as adults all summer long, so some individuals may be airborne for a month or so, and securing mates when possible. And as it was before, the females continue to be distinctly larger than the males.

Pictures were taken on July 1, 2024 with a Google Pixel 4.

[billionneuronscurious]

Mating of The Largest Moth species of India - Atlas Moth. Also one of the largest moths in the world, a beautiful lepidopteran species.

Those who love nature and wildlife often remain disappointed about the creatures and life they haven't been able to witness so far, and so was I. One such species, which I didn't come across (until yesterday) in a living state (I have seen its specimen previously) was this moth.

But, what a sight to behold it was. I got to see not one but two individuals of it, and their mating.

We were heading towards Kalu waterfall (Malshej Ghat). It was raining continuously. And just beside the pathway, from which some 250-300 tourists must have passed (to and fro) on that day, I was able to spot these two (and I indeed take a pride in it). They must have been in this state for more than one and half hour, at least, I saw them at the same spot while returning, too. 

- Dhairyasheel Dayal

[melit0n]

Made some Sleep Token bracelets today to help me deal with The Horrors™

[celestialmacros]

Carlin’s Mining Bees (Andrena carlini)

March 17, 2023

Southeastern Pennsylvania

[photography-is-silence-fiction]

Na folha (On the leaf) © Ricardo Félix aka Photography is Silence Fiction:

[hakunoknight]

my favorite bit for grimmnet is hornet telling grimm, very seriously, how she's going to eat him after they fuck (as many insect species do). he doesn't believe her and then he gets nearly eaten in the afterglow

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Short-horned grasshoppers (Rhytidochrota risaraldae) mating

By Charles Sharp

[tofreezetime]

dancing that intimate dance

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

False Honey Ant - Prenolepis imparis

Let's briefly revisit these mismatched individuals and be reminded of the warmer days of spring and nuptial flights. Though of different sizes and forms, the Ants in these pictures are the same specie, but are simply designed for different purposes. All the smaller winged male Ants here must do is secure a female and successfully form a mating pair with her. After that, his job is done and that'll be the end of him. At least he gets to enjoy the sun and breeze as he does so, as other species of Ants may have to venture underground to find a mate. Those that do are heavily scrutinized by queen's workers, and should he be deemed unfit, he will be carved apart and converted into food for the colony. If he's lucky, it will just be the wings that are eaten (first). Meanwhile, the swollen female has a long life ahead of her, especially when she finds a suitable colony location deep within the ground.

When the queen is ready, she will have shed her wings and shall foster a wonderful home teeming with loyal subjects and defenders by suppling an egg output thanks to the male's contribution. With a fill of resources inside her abdomen, she has all the energy she needs to facilitate a nest and the first batch of workers. Do not be confused however, she is full of fat reserves, not honey (unlike true Honeypot Ants such as Myrmecocystus spp.), hence the name "False Honey Ant". As the fat reserves begin to dwindle, however, sclerotization of exoskeleton progresses, as can be seen in the winged queen in Picture 9. As such, these young queens have time, but not unlimited time to find a home. I hope to see the nuptial flight this year if I can, but the emergence can be somewhat unpredictable. What is predictable however, is that this Ant will likely emerge earlier than other species as they are more tolerant of colder temperatures. They are so tolerant in fact, that they may even forage during winter, provided it isn't too cold and snow doesn't impede their locomotion.

Pictures were taken on April 8 and 10, 2021 with a Google Pixel 4.