Beetle Life * Female Zeus beetles carry their mate on their backs wherever he wants to go, feed him when he's hungry, and mate with him when he demands. Does this exploitative and one-sided relationship have a biological explanation? The researchers are confused
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The lives of female "Zeus" beetles are not easy. Biologists discovered that they feed, take care of and even carry their partner on their back. They rush to take care of him, serve him food and satisfy his sexual needs - whenever he wants.
The tiny water beetles are common throughout the east coast of Australia. Unlike other insects in nature, a monogamous, one-sided relationship exists between the male and the female. "The males get all the benefits in the relationship between the beetles," says Dr. Mark Elgar, a researcher from the University of Melbourne in Australia. "It seems that the females simply agree to this one-sided and exploitative affair." The research of Elgar and his colleagues was published in the scientific journal Nature.
Elgar and his colleagues studied the uncharacteristic behavior of the water beetles, admitting that they were unable to understand the meaning of the strange behavior, and the biological benefits inherent in it. The biologists also noted that to date no species of animal has been discovered in which such an exploitative relationship exists.
Like other insects, the size of the male Zeus beetle is about half the size of the female. Unusually, the female carries the male on her back wherever she goes, feeding him and taking care of his sexual needs. "The male can ride the female and rest while she carries him for a whole week. She feeds him when he's hungry, and mates with him," Edgar added.
The researchers, as mentioned, have not yet found a logical reason for the female's behavior. They fail to understand why she is willing to "tolerate" such behavior, and why she continues to take care of the male's needs, in such a one-sided manner. One of the reasons being tested is that it is simply easier for a beetle to take care of and nurture one male - than to take care of several. "A group of enthusiastic suitors may be a great nuisance, and sometimes even a danger to the female," the researchers said. "They may disturb the female, harass her so that she has to expend more energy and expose herself to unwanted risks."
Whatever the reason, the lives of male Zeus beetles are easy and pleasant. Not only do they get free meals and transportation to wherever they want to go, they are also safe and calm that their sperm is the one that improved the female, and not that of their competitors.
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One response
What's funny is that even in human society there is no logical reason why a woman should take care of all the man's desires (cook for him, have sex with him when he wants it, serve him...), the man still acts as her "parasite" and we take it quite for granted ( Today it's less, but still).