Copulation Collection (page 15)

Large pond skaters mating on the surface of a pond containing Canadian pondweed (Elodea canadensis). The male is at top and the female is at bottom

Giant cuttlefish mating
Giant cuttlefish (Sepia apama) mating. During copulations the male places his spermatophore (a capsule containing sperm cells) in a pouch under the females mouth

Mating ticks. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of mating Ixodes sp. ticks. The male (green) is much smaller than the female (orange). This is known as sexual dimorphism

Common whelks (Buccinum undatum) and their egg cases on a rock. The two whelks at centre right are mating. Each egg case houses between 200-1000 eggs, which will hatch after 3-9 months

Lions mating

Common darter dragonflies (Sympetrum striolatum) mating on a flower. During mating the male dragonfly grasps the females head to pull her into the wheel position in order to copulate

Dead-leaf bush crickets mating
Dead-leaf bush crickets (Typophyllum sp.) mating on a leaf in the rainforest. The smaller male has just transferred a large white sperm packet, known as a spermatophore to the larger female

Flies mating on a grass stalk. The smaller male has mounted the female

May bugs mating
May bugs (Melolontha melolontha) mating. A second male (top) is competing for the female (bottom). The beetles are attracted to light at night and were caught in a light trap put out to catch moths

Mint leaf beetles mating
Mint leaf beetles (Chrysolina menthastri) mating on a leaf

Hairy dragonflies mating
Hairy dragonflies (Brachytron pratense) mating. In order to mate, the male grasps the females head with the claspers on the end of his abdomen

Mating dead-leaf bush crickets
Dead-leaf bush crickets (Typophyllum sp.) mating on a leaf in the rainforest. The male is the smaller of the pair

Dock leaf beetles mating. Dock leaf beetles (Gastrophysa viridula) mating on a leaf of the broad-leaved dock plant (Rumex obtusifolius)

Poplar leaf beetles mating
Poplar beetles (Chrysomela populi) mating. Photographed in Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK

Green tiger beetles mating
Green tiger beetles (Cicindela campestris) mating on moorland. The male is on top. Photographed in the UK

Blue-tailed damselfly
Blue-tailed damselflies (Ischnura elegans) mating on a plant stem. During mating the male damselfly grasps the females head to pull her into the wheel position in order to copulate

European green toads mating
European green toads (Bufo viridis) mating. The female can lay between 9000 and 15, 000 eggs at a time

Common blue butterflies mating
Common blue (Polyommatus icarus) butterflies mating. Male common blue uppersides are an iridescent lilac blue with a thin black border

Burnet moths mating
Burnet moths (Zygaena carniolica) mating. Photographed in Umbria, Italy

Insects mating, SEM

Mating Common Blue Butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) on a chicory flower. Photographed in Romania in autumn

Small copper butterflies
Small copper, or common copper (Lycaena phlaeas), butterflies mating on a flower

Mating Lily Beetles (Lilioceris lilii) on a lily (Lilium) leaf

Flesh flies mating
Flesh flies (Sarcophaga carnaria) mating on a leaf. The flesh fly is so called because it feeds on rotting flesh

Mating pair of Huge Longhorn Beetles
Mating pair of huge longhorn beetles (Ceramby cerdo). This is the largest beetle in Europe. Photographed in Romania

Golden-tabbed robberflies (Eutolmus rufibarbis) mating on sand. The robberfly, or bee killer, is a predator of flying insects

Ascalaphids mating
Ascalaphids (Libelloides longicornis) mating. Ascalaphids are ant-lion relatives and a familiar sight fluttering in warm dry grasslands throughout the Mediterranean region

Sea spiders mating
Sea spiders (Nymphon grossipes) mating. Sea spiders (pantopods) are not true spiders but are closely related to arachnids

Seven-spot ladybirds mating
Seven-spot ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) mating

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) adult pair, mating, close-up of wings, Cape May, New Jersey, U. S. A. october
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) adult pair, mating, close-up of wings, Cape May, New Jersey, U.S.A. october

Mute Swans - pair after copulation - showing typical behaviour as the two birds rise up from the water - Cleveland - UK
ROY-571 Mute Swans - pair after copulation - showing typical behaviour as the two birds rise up from the water Cleveland - UK Cygnus olor Roy Glen Please note that prints are for personal display

Mute Swans - copulation - one of a sequence showing typical behaviour as the two birds rise up from the water with
ROY-570 Mute Swans - copulation - one of a sequence showing typical behaviour as the two birds rise up from the water with the male clasping the back of the neck on the female Cleveland - UK Cygnus

Sandwich Tern - Pair mating. Dorset, England, UK
DK-73 Sandwich Tern - Pair mating. Brownsea Island, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Dorset, England, UK Sterna sandvicensis David Kilbey Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

California Condor - mating - near Grand Canyon National Park - Arizona - USA _C3A0079
TOM-1720 California Condor - mating near Grand Canyon National Park - Arizona - USA Gymnogyps californianus Tom & Pat Leeson Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Speckled Wood Butterflies - on flower
ME-1881 Speckled Wood Butterflies - on flower Pararge aegeria Johan De Meester Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

White Stork-Two courting adult birds showing copulation-Manzanares el Real-Spain
ROY-380 White Stork - Two courting adult birds showing copulation Manzanares el Real, Spain Ciconia ciconia Roy Glen Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Cardinal Meadowhawk - male towing female during mating activities. Female is resting for a second between egg laying
TOM-1495 Cardinal Meadowhawk - male towing female during mating activities. Female is resting for a second between egg laying. Summer

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"Copulation: A Fascinating Display of Animal Mating Rituals Across the Globe" From the majestic Red Deer in Jaegersborg, Copenhagen, Denmark to the enchanting Mandarin ducks at Shanghai Zoo, China, a natural phenomenon that occurs in various species. Whether it's the captivating mating rituals of Marginated Tortoises or the intricate dance of Nudibranchs, these creatures showcase their primal instincts. In Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, Moor Frogs gather by the Middle Elbe to engage in an elaborate courtship ritual before copulating. Meanwhile, Black-necked stilts perform a mesmerizing post-copulatory display after their union. At Knepp estate in Sussex, White storks mate on their nest against a breathtaking sunset backdrop. However, not all encounters end harmoniously. The European praying mantis female devours her partner after mating—a stark reminder that nature can be both beautiful and brutal. In Pont Du Gau's lagoon within Camargue region lies another spectacle as Greater flamingos come together for an elegant mating session. Even birds like Common goldeneyes from Southern Norway participate in elaborate displays to attract mates. Their vibrant plumage and intricate movements create a stunning visual experience for observers. Beyond animals' realm lies Leda of "Naples Uffizi" type sculpture dating back to 1st/2nd century AD—an artistic representation of human copulation captured forever in marble. Whether it's bed bugs under SEM or creatures found across continents engaging in intimate acts—copulation serves as a testament to life's perpetuation and diversity across our planet.