Scientific Facts

[AiA in Atlanta]

Male bees have sex once, and then they die because their testicles explode.

[Neferti]

Male bees have sex once, and then they die because their testicles explode.

Fascinating.

[Super Nova]

Didn't know that.....

The reason bees testicles explode after sex and their genitals fall off has to do with preserving their genetic code, and ensuring it is their genes that go on to populate the new colony. You’re wondering how bees testicles exploding and genitals falling off after sex can ensure only their semen is the one that goes on to impregnate the queen bee. It really is quite simple. When the bees testicles explode and their genitals fall off they do so while in the vagina of the queen bee. This effectively plugs the vagina and prevents the queen bee from copulating with any other male drone bees and allowing her to be fertilized any further. If bees were the same as dogs for instance, the queen would be able to fornicate with several male drones and the offspring would have multiple fathers.

Now, what happens to the hapless, now castrated male bee? They face a similar fate to the female bees that sting. When a female bee stings their insides come out and they die a horrible death. This same fate awaits the successful male drone bee. For the others who lost the chase? They will die of exhaustion and exposure, but at least they will remain intact.

Bees are not the only animals that face this scenario while having sex. Just like bees the male wasp spider also loses his testicles during sex for the same reason as the bee. As some people might say, they really are busting a nut.

[Neferti]

You mean that somebody actually checked out bees' dicks? What did they use, a telescope? I bet that they were paid Government employees.

[boxy]

Probably independent contractors

[Neferti]

Probably independent contractors

Do tell.

[Neferti]

Here you go.
http://insects.about.com/od/antsbeeswas ... Mating.htm

The male honey bee, called a drone, exists for one reason only – to mate with the queen. He is entirely expendable once he provides this service to the colony. In fact, any drones that remain around the hive in the fall will be unceremoniously driven from the colony before cold weather sets in. Honey stores are simply too precious to waste on a sperm donor.

The drone takes his mission seriously, however, and will give his life for the cause.

Honey bee mating is one of the most dramatic examples of sexual suicide in the insect world. Honey bee sex occurs in mid-air, when the queen flies out in search of mates. Drones compete for the chance to mate with their queen, swarming around her as she flies.

Eventually, a brave drone will make his move. As he grasps the queen, the drone everts his penis using a contraction of his abdominal muscles and hemostatic pressure, and inserts it tightly into the queen's reproductive tract. He immediately ejaculates with such explosive force that the tip of his penis ruptures, and is left behind inside the queen. The drone falls to the ground, where he dies soon after.

During her one nuptial flight, the queen will mate with a dozen or more partners, leaving a trail of dead drones in her wake. She stores the sperm for use throughout her life.

Think that's gruesome? How would you like to be eaten by your mate during sex, like some praying mantids?

What has me bothered is why AiA is trawling the internetz to find out such odd stuff. Is it CURIOSITY, AiA?