Many female members of certain species are willing to consume their mates immediately after mating to provide additional nutrients for themselves and their offspring.
The phenomenon of female cannibalism has been documented in about 30 species, primarily among insects and spiders, and is considered a unique characteristic of lower animals.
Previously, scientists often used evolutionary theory to justify this behavior. They argued that males were willing to sacrifice their bodies for the benefit of offspring that were yet to be conceived. However, research indicates that regardless of any agreement, many females are still willing to devour their mates.
The purpose of this “cold-blooded” action is to produce and pass on genes to the next generation. Some insect species, such as male stag beetles, are willing to do anything for this purpose. However, in nature, the rate of sacrifice only ranges from 5% to 31%.
In fact, cannibalism can extend mating duration and increase the chances of fertilization. As a result, females and offspring receive important nutrients.
Midge Mosquito
Male Midge Mosquito often gets “overpowered” by females during mating.
In the case of the male Midge Mosquito, during mating, the female will suck blood from the male, causing the male’s genitalia to burst inside her. This behavior ensures that the male does not engage in mating with other females, benefiting the offspring of this species.
Midge Mosquitoes tend to live in swarms and are extremely attracted to light, especially the light from… insect trap lamps. This species is characterized by relatively short wings that do not cover its entire body. Additionally, they lack a proboscis, which is a convenient excuse for avoiding bites.
Crickets
The male sagebrush cricket allows its mate to chew through its wing membranes during each mating encounter. Like the praying mantis, this behavior does not always occur and depends on the nutritional needs of the female. If nutritional resources are limited, females often seek mates with intact wings.
However, if there is an abundance of nutrients, females are willing to mate with males that have previously “roamed” with others. Nonetheless, sagebrush crickets are considered lucky as they are rarely consumed by their mates.
Praying Mantis
With dying praying mantises, the process of transferring sperm to the female is accelerated.
To enhance the reproductive success and survival of offspring, female praying mantises will consume their mates after mating. Many females even devour the male during copulation. The tactic involves attacking the head to stun the mate before chewing off the head and completely consuming it. The reason many females prefer to eat their mates during mating is that with dying males, the sperm transfer process is expedited compared to when they are still alive.
In nature, male mantises are eaten by females in approximately 13% to 28% of mating instances. During the breeding season, the number of males that become meals for females can rise to 63%. According to research results, female mantises that consume their mates lay more eggs. This behavior also significantly increases the sacrificial contribution of male mantises to their offspring.
Spiders
As many as 65% of male Australian Redback Spiders are consumed during mating.
Female spiders prefer to eat their mates because male spiders are the perfect food source, closely aligned with their nutritional needs. The aggression of the female spider will determine when she consumes her mate: during or after mating. However, it is not uncommon for females to eat potential mates before the “act.”
For example, male Australian Redback Spiders sacrifice themselves by climbing onto the female’s mouth during mating, thus transferring their sperm just as they become… their mate’s meal. The male Australian Redback Spiders that are consumed (which account for 65% of cases) mate longer and produce twice the number of offspring compared to males that are not eaten.
Snakes
Recent observations of pythons and other snakes consuming their mates after mating have revealed that female snakes exhibit a remarkable behavior, showing a true preference for consuming their mates after both experience intimate moments.
Typically, male snakes prefer to choose larger females for mating to ensure stronger offspring in the next generation. This preference, combined with the strength of the female snakes, often puts male snakes at a disadvantage, leading to their demise.
