It's Good to be Generous
Spermatophores are made for female consumption by males of many cricket species, but the quality of these gifts varies widely.
Some contain sperm-protecting compounds and few nutrients. They're easy to make, allowing males to breed several times per night over the course of their three-week lives, but offering little benefit to females
Other spermatophores are highly nutritious, but they're also difficult to produce. Males who do mate just once or twice before dying. Why opt for such a resource-intensive strategy? These spermatophores also contain compounds that encourage females to lay more eggs and discourage her from mating with other males.
Research on crickets shows that ladies prefer the expensive gift.
Image: A spermatophore-carrying female bushcricket. (Photo: Jay McCartney)