The Nameless Hills and Dells
Beetles Die During Sex With Beer Bottles
It’s a case of mistaken attraction, because the beer bottles happen to possess all of the features that drive male Australian jewel beetles wild. They’re big and orangey brown in color, with a slightly dimpled surface near the bottom (designed to prevent the bottle from slipping out of one’s grasp) that reflects light in much the same way as female wing covers.
This article is brilliantly written:
The bottles –- stubbies as they are known in Australia, Canada and a few other countries –- resemble a “super female” jewel beetle. Male beetles are so captivated by the bottles that they will gird their loins and go through the expected motions, refusing to leave until they fry to death, are consumed by hungry ants, or are physically removed by researchers.
gird their loins! really!
