As the most numerous animals on Earth, there’s no doubt that bugs have been getting busy. Several University of Toronto researchers recently shared their insights into insects’ mating rituals in the Bug Sex episode of The Nature of Things, a CBC documentary series hosted by environmentalist David Suzuki. “Sex in bugs is fascinating, gruesome, counterintuitive,” says Maydianne Andrade, professor in the department of biological science at U of T Scarborough and renowned expert on the mating habits of cannibalistic spiders. They were joined on the episode by U of T Mississauga’s Darryl Gwynne, a professor emeritus of biology, and Rosalind Murray, an assistant professor of biology. “Nature is amazing in what it generates in terms of diversity – same thing goes for the mating game,” says Gwynne, who was Andrade’s PhD supervisor.
