Spider Mite Males Strip Females' Skin for Quick Mating
Male spider mites have been observed removing the skin of female spider mites as part of a mating ritual. Researchers in Austria discovered this behavior while studying spider mites in their lab. The males guard the females and wait for them to molt their exoskeletons. Once the females start molting, the males use their mouthparts to strip off the skin and then mate with them. This behavior ensures that the male is the first to mate with the female and sire all the offspring. This is the first time such skin-stripping behavior has been observed in any species, highlighting the intense mate competition and sophisticated behaviors driven by sexual selection even in tiny animals.