Skip to main content
Chinese Giant Stick Insect (Phryganistria chinensis)
Weird mating
74Six Legs
Bug Bite · From the file on Chinese Giant Stick Insect

Many stick insect species have gone generations without producing a male — females reproduce by parthenogenesis indefinitely.

EncyclopediaEncyclopedia of LifeVerified by sources
Read the full file on Chinese Giant Stick Insect

More Weird mating bites

Common Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius)
Weird mating
Six Legs79

Bed bugs reproduce by 'traumatic insemination' — the male stabs his hardened genital structure directly through the female's abdomen.

Common Bed BugVerified by sources
Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata)
Weird mating
Six Legs92

The Sateré-Mawé people of Brazil weave hundreds of live bullet ants into gloves and wear them as part of a manhood ritual — twenty separate sessions over years.

Bullet AntVerified by sources
Diving Bell Spider (Argyroneta aquatica)
Weird mating
Six Legs79

Diving bell spider males are larger than females — a reversal of the typical spider pattern, possibly because males spend more time swimming and need bigger air reservoirs.

Diving Bell SpiderVerified by sources
Regal Jumping Spider (Phidippus regius)
Weird mating
Six Legs75

Male jumping spiders perform species-specific dance choreographies so elaborate they're used to identify species.

Regal Jumping SpiderVerified by sources
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa)
Weird mating
Six Legs72

Females are ovoviviparous — eggs hatch internally and they give birth to about 60 live nymphs at a time.

Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus)
Weird mating
Six Legs79

Females are 2-3× larger than males. Only females do the full flower mimicry — males are smaller and less elaborate.

Orchid MantisVerified by sources