While you’re thinking of the perfect gifts for your loved ones this holiday season, male scorpionflies are crafting the perfect spitballs for theirs. Though spitballs sound unappealing to us, the female scorpionfly — a tan, slender-bodied, winged insect less than an inch long — finds the nutrient-packed ball of saliva a tasty treat. In fact, while she eats the gooey goodness, she rewards the male with an opportunity to mate with her.
And scorpionflies aren’t the only gift-giving animals besides humans; spiders, squid, snails, birds and many others strive to impress with presents. Most of the gifts traded among these species are nuptial gifts — that is, anything (beyond sperm and egg) that’s exchanged during mating or courtship to boost the gifter’s chance at reproduction.
