Gallery: The Strange World of Bug Sex, in Pictures

  • Image may contain Animal Reptile and Lizard
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    09-DSC-7469b-2011

    Weevils (*Curculionidae*) mating, while their little friend hitches a ride on the male.
  • Image may contain Animal Anisoptera Invertebrate Dragonfly Insect Human and Person
    02

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    Damselflies (*Zygoptera sp*.). Aww.
  • Image may contain Animal Invertebrate and Insect
    03

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    NBD, nothing to see here, just us beetles.
  • Image may contain Animal Invertebrate and Insect
    04

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    True weevils (*Curculionidae sp.*).
  • Image may contain Animal Arachnid Invertebrate Spider Insect and Garden Spider
    05

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    Crab spiders (*Thomisus sp.*). Note the size difference between the reddish male and yellow female).
  • Image may contain Animal Invertebrate Insect Cricket Insect Reptile and Lizard
    06

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    Stick insects (*Phasmatodea sp.*), looks like twigs but have more fun.
  • Image may contain Animal Invertebrate Insect and Cricket Insect
    07

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    There are legs all over the place in this photo of striated Tylorida spiders (*Tylorida striata*) mating.
  • Image may contain Animal Invertebrate and Insect
    08

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    Treehoppers (*Membracidae*) are among the more ornately ornamented of insects. Often found with crazy horns or helmets, this mating pair has bunny-ears instead.
  • Image may contain Garden Spider Arachnid Animal Invertebrate Spider and Insect
    09

    07-DSC-3689b-2012

    An orange male huntsman spider attempts to mate with the green female. This pair began their courtship on the underside of a leaf, then fell off, and continued going. Ultimately, he didn't succeed.
  • BICEP 2 sunset
    Image: Steffen Richter (Harvard University)
    10

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    These earwigs (*Dermaptera sp. *) have formed a nice sinusoidal shape while mating.
  • Image may contain Animal Invertebrate Insect Arachnid and Spider
    11

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    Assassin bugs (*Reduviidae*)...because THAT's what we need more of.
  • Image may contain Animal Invertebrate Insect and Cricket Insect
    12

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    Longhorn beetles (*Cerambycidae*).
  • Image may contain Animal Invertebrate Cricket Insect and Insect
    13

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    Tiger beetles (*Cicindelinae*) in silhouette.
  • Image may contain Animal Arachnid Invertebrate Spider and Insect
    14

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    Ground beetles (*Carabidae*).
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