Not-So-Romantic Insect Mating Rituals You Didn’t Know About
It probably doesn’t cross your mind often—if at all—but insects have mating rituals just like birds and mammals do! Here at Vulcan Termite & Pest Control Inc., we’re all about insect education because the lives of bugs are fascinating! Keep reading for some of the interesting insect mating rituals that bugs have to woo each other.
Insect Mating Rituals
If you’ve ever dealt with an insect infestation, you probably know how quickly a few bugs can turn into a few dozen and, eventually, a few hundred. But these extra pests don’t just materialize out of thin air. Bugs primarily reproduce sexually, so they have mating rituals just like we do (even if theirs aren’t as romantic).
Termites
It’s common knowledge that with many animal species, it’s the male that attempts to woo the female. With termites, however, it’s the female that does the seduction! Female termites will release pheromones (which humans have, too!) specifically for initiating mating; it’s a lot like they put on a strong perfume that tells males closeby: Let’s mate!
Once a male finds a female, they actually break off their wings. This is their way of letting other termites know that they’re now a couple and ready to start a family (well, a colony, that is) of their own together. Kind of sweet, right?
Lovebugs
“Lovebug” is another name for an insect called the March Fly, a skinny and long black bug with orange spots. Although they aren’t harmful to humans, a lot of people really dislike seeing lovebugs because their mating behavior is kind of… odd to see.
These guys got their nickname from being criminal offenders in PDA—they’re constantly mating, and they don’t even unlink from their pairings when they fly away from a sudden threat. They just keep on having a good time, like no one’s watching. Insects don’t have a sense of shame or modesty, and lovebugs are a great example of this.
We actually published a detailed blog about love bugs earlier this month, in time for Valentine’s Day – check it out here!
Kissing Bugs (Not to be confused with Lovebugs!)
Kissing bugs—not to be confused with lovebugs—also have a cute nickname, with the reason behind it being not so cute.
Kissing bugs are known for two things:
- The source of their nickname: Kissing bugs bite the faces and lips of people while they sleep because they need blood for their mating rituals and egg laying.
- Their feces usually contain the Chagas disease-causing parasite, which can cause humans (exposed via kissing bug bite) to suffer acute digestive illness or delayed cardiovascular events.
Although they are extremely rare in Alabama, kissing bugs can and have been found in the state. If you ever see a kissing bug on your property, call your local pest control immediately. If you think you may have sustained a kissing bug bite, seek immediate medical attention and ask your doctor to keep a record of the incident on file, as delayed chronic cases of Chagas disease can occur 10-20 years after the initial kissing bug bite.
The lovebugs we mentioned earlier do not cause any sort of disease or harm like this to humans, so you shouldn’t confuse kissing bugs with them.
Fire Ants
When you need an example of a woman-led society, look no further than fire ant colonies! The queen fire ant handles all of the egg laying, which may sound like a tough job, but she’s more than ready for the task. Fire ant queens can even control how many male and female eggs they lay!
The queen fire ant’s ultimate goal with gender-selective egg laying is to produce another queen, so most of the eggs she lays will be female. When it comes to the regular worker ants, the males die after mating. Whenever the queen needs males, she’ll lay an overwhelming amount of male eggs. This way, there will still be males left over after mating kills many of them.
Is There Too Much Bug Romance Going On in Your Home?
It’s fun to read about insect behavior, but it’s another thing entirely to witness it in your home! If you’re suffering from an insect infestation, Vulcan Termite & Pest Control Inc. is here to help. We know almost everything there is to know about pests and their behavior, making us well-equipped to solve your problem quickly and effectively.
Call (205) 663-4200 or contact us online today, and we’ll gladly perform a FREE inspection and create and implement an effective, custom strategy using our tried-and-true methods, so you and your family can enjoy a pest-free home.