"Spider Mites Accelerate Mating Process Through Skin Suit Assistance"
Male spider mites have evolved a unique behavior of helping females shed their juvenile skin suits to speed up the mating process. By spotting the silvery appearance of females on the verge of sexual maturity, males assist in removing the old skin, exposing the female's genital opening for mating. This strategy increases the male's reproductive success by ensuring they are the first to mate with the female. The discovery was made during a study on alternative reproductive tactics and highlights the remarkable strategies born out of sexual selection in the animal kingdom.