In modern Western times, sex has nothing to do with what it really means. Genital and mechanical exclusivity has led human sexuality to be bought and compared to animal reproduction. This, without a doubt, has generated curiosity about the similarities and differences between both notions. For this reason, at , with the help of Wired, we share curious and even extravagant facts about sex between insects (with the hope of generating a reflection on human sexuality):
The penises of some beetles are covered with beaks, shovels, harpoons and daggers, which cause wounds in the females’ vaginas. This means easier mating when the sperm comes into contact with the vagina.
Sometimes, female insects tend to kill and eat their suitors.
Insect vaginas can store male sperm for years before using it. Even expel it if they are not attracted to the male.
Male flies must perform a complete genital contortion, between 90° and 180°, to be able to penetrate the female; although some species manage to make a 360° rotation.
Many insects experience sex as agony and ecstasy at the same time; since, sometimes, the penis explodes or breaks inside the female’s vagina. The example of this practice is bees, where the male’s penis explodes with ejaculation until he falls from the sky, dying in the bushes. Another case is crickets, which hold the male’s penis as a protein snack; Therefore, in this process, size does matter since females only choose their partner based on their spermatophore.
Male dermaptera have two penises in case the first one breaks inside the female’s vagina. In addition, each penis of the dermaptera is similar in length to its entire body.
There are times when males detach their penis inside their partner’s vagina. According to the scientists, the males that survived the process were able to mate eventually; while the females took longer to do so.