No, You're Never Gonna Get It
It turns out that hoping your musical performance will be good enough to hook up with some sweet lovin' is not strictly for rock stars.
While the female members of the large majority of water striders have little recourse to thwart the advances of their paramours, evolution has equipped a singular Asian variety — the red-backed water strider, which is found in parts of Japan, China and Korea — with a manner of chastity belt. The ladies themselves keep the key, and fellas, if you have any hope at all, you're going to have to sing for it, and it better be good.
The female red-backed water strider's abdomen features a retractable shield that covers the genitals. She will retract the shield and allow mating only after the male spends approximately 15 minutes serenading her in an elaborate three-song set created by rhythmically tapping his legs on the water surface.
Researchers suspect that the quality of the male's song serves as an indicator to the female of the individual male's fitness and suitability as a mating partner, although it can't be ruled completely out that a few of them just think drummers are hot.
| Category: | Animals & Pets, Life & Style, Life Sciences, Science |
| Place: | China, Japan |
| Subject: | Music, Sex |
|
Last Year's L.A. Marathon Winner Hopes for Second Win
By Darragh Worland 14 hours ago |
|
Santa Monica Restaurant to Close for Serving Illegal Whale Meat
By Kathy Ehrich Dowd 14 hours ago |
|
Not Into Sports? Then Try Munch Madness Instead
By Darragh Worland 14 hours ago |
|
Meatout Marks 25th Anniversary of Swapping Pork Chop for Bok Choy
By David Bois 2 days ago |
|
Ladies Rejoice: Introducing the SheWee
By Sophie Rosenblum 2 days ago |


