More Sex on the Internet?

This morning two Crane Flies were mating on the front door. These flies are skinny critters which often will lose their legs when handled. (Very fragile, indeed!) The adults do not feed so mating is their only adventure at this stage. I hear often folk in West Virginia say, “There is a male mosquito”. I do not know were this misconception started. They do not bite or sting. These beasts are often found during late summer and fall buzzing around our house lights.

The female is recognized by her swollen abdomen which is full of eggs. (They are in the process of being fertilized as we speak!) The abdomen tapers into a pointed ovipositor which is often mistaken for a stinger. The male genitalia have a pair of claspers that attaches to the female’s genitalia. The ole male has to twist his abdomen 180 degrees for the connection to be successful.

Quiz time! Which is the female? The one on the right or the left in the closeup photo below?

Yep, the one on the right is the female!

We had a friend who worked for years as a staff photographer for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. His job entailed spending all day photographing insect genitalia. This was for the Smithsonian’s Research Programs in Entomology. (At least that it what he said!) I really can not think of anything more boring!