Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > Australia
Reload this Page >

Aussie Bug Got It Right!

Aussie Bug Got It Right!

Old Jul 23rd 2003, 7:07 pm
  #1  
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
 
r.bartlett's Avatar
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: newbury
Posts: 1,015
r.bartlett has a brilliant futurer.bartlett has a brilliant futurer.bartlett has a brilliant futurer.bartlett has a brilliant futurer.bartlett has a brilliant futurer.bartlett has a brilliant future
Default Aussie Bug Got It Right!

Aussie Bug Got It Right!

LONDON (Reuters) - As life goes, it doesn't get much better than for
male Zeus bugs.

The tiny water bugs that are common along Australia's east coast have
an easy life. Their female partners provide free food, transport and
unlimited sex whenever they want it.

"All the advantages in this relationship seem to fall to the male with
no obvious advantage for the female, yet the female Zeus bug seems a
willing partner in this one-sided affair," Dr Mark Elgar, of the
University of Melbourne in Australia, said on Wednesday.

Elgar and his colleagues, who studied the unusual creatures, admit to
being baffled by their behavior, which defies the norm in animals and
insects.

The male Zeus bug is half the size of the female and hitches a piggy
back ride on the female which also feeds him.

"The male can ride the female, feeding and mating for up to a week,"
said Elgar, who reported his findings in the science journal Nature.

Why the female puts up with feeding and carrying the male around is a
mystery but Elgar and his colleagues suspect it is less tiring to put
up with one male partner than several.

"A constant stream of suitors wanting to participate in a polygamous
free-for-all could possibly lead to greater harassment, leading to the
female expending more energy and placing herself at greater risk of
harm than if she doted on just one male," Elgar said in a statement.

The male Zeus bug simply can't lose. He not only gets a free ride but
is assured that his sperm, and not his rival's, is used to create the
next generation.


cheers

richard
r.bartlett is offline  
Old Jul 24th 2003, 9:30 pm
  #2  
earlswood
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Sounds like the stereo typical Ozzie bloke!!

Earlswood
 
Old Jul 24th 2003, 11:31 pm
  #3  
Banned
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Perth Arse end of the planet
Posts: 7,037
pommie bastard has a reputation beyond reputepommie bastard has a reputation beyond reputepommie bastard has a reputation beyond reputepommie bastard has a reputation beyond reputepommie bastard has a reputation beyond reputepommie bastard has a reputation beyond reputepommie bastard has a reputation beyond reputepommie bastard has a reputation beyond reputepommie bastard has a reputation beyond reputepommie bastard has a reputation beyond reputepommie bastard has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Aussie Bug Got It Right!

Originally posted by r.bartlett
Aussie Bug Got It Right!

LONDON (Reuters) - As life goes, it doesn't get much better than for
male Zeus bugs.

The tiny water bugs that are common along Australia's east coast have
an easy life. Their female partners provide free food, transport and
unlimited sex whenever they want it.

"All the advantages in this relationship seem to fall to the male with
no obvious advantage for the female, yet the female Zeus bug seems a
willing partner in this one-sided affair," Dr Mark Elgar, of the
University of Melbourne in Australia, said on Wednesday.

Elgar and his colleagues, who studied the unusual creatures, admit to
being baffled by their behavior, which defies the norm in animals and
insects.

The male Zeus bug is half the size of the female and hitches a piggy
back ride on the female which also feeds him.

"The male can ride the female, feeding and mating for up to a week,"
said Elgar, who reported his findings in the science journal Nature.

Why the female puts up with feeding and carrying the male around is a
mystery but Elgar and his colleagues suspect it is less tiring to put
up with one male partner than several.

"A constant stream of suitors wanting to participate in a polygamous
free-for-all could possibly lead to greater harassment, leading to the
female expending more energy and placing herself at greater risk of
harm than if she doted on just one male," Elgar said in a statement.

The male Zeus bug simply can't lose. He not only gets a free ride but
is assured that his sperm, and not his rival's, is used to create the
next generation.


cheers

richard

A Pom refugees idea of Australia no doubt?




pommie bastard is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.