Mating scale insects
| Title | Info |
|---|---|
| Common name | Scale Insect, Giant |
| Scientific name | Margarodidae |
| Taxonomic group | Homoptera |
| Level | Family |
| Source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Selection and adaptations | Selection |
| Selection | Sexual selection |
| Behavior | Communication; Mating |
| Organisms | Animals |
| Animals | Insects |
| Location | Monteverde,Puntarenas,Costa Rica,North America |
Giant scale insects mating, Costa Rica. The mottled gray object in this image is a giant scale insect female, about 1/4 of an inch long (approximately 6 mm), and the colorful insect is a giant scale insect male. He is winged and highly mobile, unlike the wingless and sedentary females who just sit, feed, call males, and mate. This male has been called in by a female in the late afternoon, presumably when she released one or more sex pheromones, and they are now mating. This is an outstanding example of sexual dimorphism and sexual selection. The male is brightly colored, winged, and mobile, and functions as a moving sack of sperm; the female need only stay put, feed, attract mates, and produce large numbers of eggs. Each sex is clearly optimized for its function.
