SKIRMISHER

The giant water bug Belostomatidae’s deeply charming way of reproduction goes like this:

Males attract the females doing a series of periodic movements near water surface generating ripples in the water known as display pumping. Before a female begins ovipositing the eggs, she mates with the male. Then a series of intercalated matings and ovipositions occur, females ovipositing 1-4 eggs in each ovipositing bout. An egg batch can have more than 100 eggs so a couple may copulate more than 30 times before female oviposits all the egg batch. This increases male confidence of paternity, a condition thought necessary for the origin of paternal care. There are two substrates of oviposition, females of species pertaining to the ancestral subfamily (Lethocerinae) oviposit on emergent vegetation. On the other hand, Belostomatinae females oviposit on the males’ dorsum. The male will raise the eggs exposing them to air periodically to discourage the growth of fungus and maintain the viability of the eggs, or conduct a series of movements below the water known as brood pumping that increases the amount of oxygen diffusion. The eggs will hatch in approximately three weeks but their hatching time will decrease as temperature rises

So what you’re seeing above is a male with some of the eggs hatching. While below, the equally lovable Surinam toad with its similar way of reproduction.

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