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It's That Time of Year Again
What are male Praying Mantises praying about?
Probably something like, "Please God, don't let that chick bite my head off!"
See for yourself.
From the NYT
Across the eastern United States, a gruesome ritual is in full swing. The praying mantis and its relative, the Chinese mantis, are in their courtship season. A male mantis approaches a female, flapping his wings and swaying his abdomen. Leaping on her back, he begins to mate. And quite often, she tears off his head.
The Approach Mantises prepare to mate. With luck the female may not be hungry.
This is what I kept thinking back in my single and poor days. With any luck, the female may not be hungry.
A Leap of Faith Risking all, the male jumps onto the female's back.
Look at the size differential. It would be like one of us guys going out with a woman who plays center for the NFL.
The Moment of Truth The female, true to form, bites off his head.
Hey there! Nibbling is one thing. What the heck are you up to?
The Main Course Having the male's sperm, the female now has the male himself.
Man. That's just WRONG. WRONG. WRONG.
I guess that answers the question, "Will he call me tomorrow?"
The End of the Affair All that is left of the male are his wings and his genes.
That's why I'm all for marriage for insects. We guys know that it ain't nothing to get your head bit off a couple times a day sometimes. And we're no worse for the wear.
I'm thinking that the "Mantis Dating Game", if it were ever to be on TV, would have some strange questions.
"Mr X, how do you taste with garlic? Been eating a lot lately? I bet your a big and hefty fellow there."
No wonder they're praying. Half the guys must be celibate.
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