The complex sex lives of gold swift moths

December 23, 2014

Chuck Bednar for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online

The mating habits of the animal kingdom tend to be fairly basic and predictable, but one type of insect has tried to spice things up a bit by opting to use a variety of different mating patterns and sexual positions during its reproductive ritual.

The creature in question is the gold swift moth (Phymatopus hecta), and according to researchers from the University of Leeds’ School of Biology, it has one of the most complex sex lives in the insect world. In fact, research published last month in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society suggests that its reproductive repertoire reads like an insect version of the Kama Sutra.

“With most insects, you expect to find a fairly set mating process. In moths like this, you might see the female staying still, emitting a scent and then mating with the first male moth to arrive,” explained study author Professor John Turner. “Colleagues have commented that this is the most elaborate mating procedure known in any insect and I have certainly not observed anything to surpass it.”

Read more at

Hawksbill turtles' monogamous sex life revealed

By Michelle Warwicker, BBC Nature

The sex lives of critically endangered hawksbill turtles have been revealed by scientists studying the animals in the Seychelles.

Previously, little had been understood about the mating habits of the turtles, which live underwater and often far out at sea.

Researchers were surprised to find that the turtles are mainly monogamous, with females storing sperm from one male and using it to fertilise multiple egg clutches.

The study, led by researchers from the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, was published in the online journal Molecular Ecology.

"Sperm storage" is found in animals including reptiles, birds and some turtles, tortoises and terrapins.

Females can store viable sperm from multiple males for long periods of time, meaning that their egg clutches are sometimes fertilised by more than one father.

Researchers carried out DNA testing from hawksbill turtle hatchlings on Cousine Island in the Seychelles to identify how many males were involved in fertilising eggs during a breeding season.

The tests revealed a monogamous mating system: most egg clutches were sired by just one male, and no males had fertilised more than one female during the 75-day season.

Read more:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/21261584

Two-toed sloths' 'lazy' sex life revealed

The hidden sexual habits of Hoffmann's two-toed sloths have been revealed by scientists.

Mating activity of the "lazy" mammals was analysed in Costa Rica to assess the effect of a sedentary lifestyle.

Ecologists discovered a mating system where male sloths did not monopolise females but did show signs of defending some territory.

The results could help scientists understand how to protect other species threatened with habitat fragmentation.

The findings were published in the journal Animal Behaviour.

"It's not a total free for all," said one of the team, Dr Zach Peery.

Although sloth physiology and anatomy is well understood, the behaviour of sloth species is not, said Dr Jonathan Pauli, who co-authored the University of Wisconsin study with Dr Zach Peery.

Continued:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18953393