How To Keep Your Six-Legged Girlfriend From Running Around On You
I was reading some interesting mate-guarding tactics in Dr. David Buss' "The Evolution of Desire" the other day (p. 124 of the revised paperback edition):
The male velid water strider, for example, grasps his mate and sometimes rides on her back for hours or days, even when not engaged in copulation. ... Perhaps the most unusual form of physical interfrerence with the designs of rival males is the insertion of copulatory plugs.
Insect chastity belts!
Buss continues:
In one species of fly, the Johannseniella nitida, males leave their genitalia broken off from their own bodies after the copulation to seal the reproductive opening of the female.
Being a mammal has its merits.
Here's a book. It's worth reading for just to admire the comedic poochiness of the author portrait on the dust jacket... It's like a cartoon of a hipster second marriage.
But it's all about the lessons we should and shouldn't take from the lives of other species.
Short version: Human life is an animal form, but you're not supposed to drink out of puddles.
Crid [CridComment at Gmail] at September 12, 2011 6:48 AM
I've been walking around saying copulatory plugs for the past hour.
Excellent!
No doubt they resemble hair curlers...
Ben David at September 12, 2011 12:32 PM
Where is BOTU? This post is finally about something that he is an expert.
Dave B at September 12, 2011 1:00 PM
Nope this was a simple typo: physical interfrerence.
Jim P. at September 12, 2011 7:00 PM
Rides on her back for hours or days? Impressive. Such behaviour among humans is rare, even in england.
Ape at September 13, 2011 6:45 AM
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