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GRASSHOPPERS MATING

on 25th February 2015

“On the afternoon of 19th October 2014, I was admiring the fauna along a forest stream when I chanced upon a pair of grasshoppers (Oxya japonica) mating upon stream-side vegetation (below).

“With the male’s abdomen intimately curled under the female’s, their embrace lasted at least ten minutes. Throughout the mating procedure, the hind legs of the female were trembling and twitching frequently, perhaps indications of delight derived from this prolonged process.

“A video clip of the mating pair (with female’s limbs quivering) may be viewed here:

“Soon after mating, the male simply hopped away, while the female remained on the same perch. All that mating must have made her hungry, as she almost immediately began to devour the green stem in front of her (below).

“A video clip of the female feeding may be viewed here:

“This female will need all the nutrition she can get, as she prepares for the next phase of egg laying.”

Dr. Leong Tzi Ming
Singapore
1st February 2015

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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