Episode 631: the one where you ponder the similarities between the insect female and the adult human female

In between updates on Rae & Meth, I'm here for you if what you desire is a report on new developments in the research of flora and fauna.

Oh majestic world of science, you're so sexy!


ScienceDaily:

"Female Water Striders Expose Their Genitalia Only After Males 'Sing.'"

In other news...

I just realized I'm part water strider.

"(Female water striders) have evolved a morphological shield to protect their genitalia from males' forceful copulatory attempts (yesss, "copulatory" is now the adjective of the day), ...(and) only expose their genitalia for copulation after males produce a courtship "song" by tapping the water surface.

Natural selection favors higher mating frequency in males than in females in many animals, including humans. This leads to an evolutionary "arms race" where males evolve adaptations that force females to mate, while females evolve defenses against males' attempts. ("Ay ma...")

Females water striders...have evolved a morphological shield behind which their genitalia are hidden from males, protecting them against the males' forceful attempts to mate. In an apparent response to the female adaptation...males produce courtship signals by tapping the water. It is only after receiving the male's "song" that females expose their genitalia for copulation."


Adaptation of mating trickery in order to circumvent the ladies' morphological shields.
Jesus, evolution takes SO long.
It's quicker just to put on The K&D Sessions.