The ladybug may not be such a lady after all.
Females damselflies find the mating process much less of a hassle if they appear masculine to the majority of suitors as most male damselfies will avoid mating with other males, although that happens too.
From Discovery News-
Females that bear a striking resemblance to males within their same species are, in some cases, evolving ever-more masculine bodies and behaviors, suggests a new study that may help to explain how mimicry among animals and insects works.
Nature’s transvestism occurs in a diverse array of species, from female hyenas with pseudo penises to butch butterflies. The phenomenon is particularly evident in damselflies, where certain females, called andromorphs, are often more dude than damsel.
“Males recognize and treat male-like females indeed as other males, thus sometimes andromorphs are being ignored (sexually),” Arne Iserbyt, lead author of the study, told Discovery News. “In addition to looking like males — same body coloration, abdomen pattern and morphology — these male-like females can show quite aggressive and typical male-like refusal behavior towards approaching males.”
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