How Long Do Insects Mate? 24 Species Ranked by Duration

Human expectations can vary widely when it comes to how long pairs spend together. Some prefer shorter interactions, while others enjoy longer, more involved experiences. Interestingly, this variety is also true for insects that may last even for several days or weeks. The duration and manner in which insects mate can be just as diverse and fascinating. We’ve looked at how long different insects mate and what makes their mating processes unique.

24. Mosquitoes

These familiar pests have a unique mating ritual where males use the high-pitched sound of their wings to attract females. The higher the pitch, the more irresistible it is to females. Once a suitable partner is found, they intertwine in mid-air for a whirlwind romance. The mating process itself is over in a flash, taking as short as 13 seconds to finish.

23. Aphids

Aphids mate very quickly with the whole process taking only a few seconds to about 2 minutes. The male dies shortly after, whereas the female gives birth to live young.

22. Honeybees

Honeybees often mate in mid-air, with the drone bee chasing the queen bee until they mate. The process lasts about 5 minutes but often ends dramatically for the drone bee. Its reproductive parts get torn away post-mating, leading to its eventual death. This ensures that the queen bee’s hive remains well stocked with potent seeds, safeguarding future generations.

21. Dung Beetles

Courtship in dung beetles usually involves the male painstakingly preparing and presenting a ball of dung to the female as a gift. If impressed, the female will join the male in this ball for a mating session, which lasts an estimated 15 minutes.

20. Ants

Ant mating begins with male ants, known as drones, and new queen ants flying together in a process called a nuptial flight. Here, the queen mates with many drones, which don’t survive after. This can last from 15 minutes to an hour. After mating, using the stored seeds from the flight, she starts her own colony.

19. Crickets

For crickets, the male lures the female by chirping a love song. Once the female is persuaded, they join their bodies together. This lasts anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour! The male stays connected to the female for a while post-mating, and then the male scurries off, leaving the female to lay her fertilized eggs.

18. Giant Water Bugs

Giant water bugs are known for their unusual male parental care, with females laying eggs on their backs. The mating itself typically lasts for about half an hour.

17. Peacock Spiders

Peacock spiders are known for their vivid and complex dance during mating, which is considered one of the most complicated in the insect world. Males use their colorful belly flaps and legs to attract females. If the female likes what she sees, they mate for around 50 minutes. But if the male fails to impress, he may end up being the female’s next meal.

16. Fireflies

If you notice the night sky sparkling with natural glow sticks, fireflies might be engaging in their mating ritual. The male emits light signals, seducing the female with their bright flashes. Once attracted, their mating process begins. Depending on the species, this usually takes up to several hours.

15. Butterflies

Butterflies employ a stunning aerial dance as part of their courtship, creating a breathtaking display of color and grace. Their mating ritual begins with the male chasing the female and engaging in mid-air acrobatics. Mating happens in flight and can last several hours. 

14. Cockroaches

Cockroaches prefer the slow and steady approach. They kick-start the love dance with courtship, where the male attracts the female with pheromones. After the female’s approval, they mate tail-to-tail, which can last up to an hour. Following the mating process, the female lays an egg case, also known as an “ootheca,” which contains approximately 30-40 eggs.

13. Stag Beetles

The stag beetles’ mating ritual involves the male, singing their large, antler-like mandibles to fight off other suitors. They do this to showcase their strength to the females. The mating process can last a solid hour.

12. Dragonflies

For dragonflies, their mating process involves an aerial coupling known as ‘in-flight copulation’. The male grabs the female mid-flight, and mating ensues in a heart-shaped position called a ‘mating wheel’. This entire process can take up to several hours, depending on the species.

11. Fleas

Fleas have an interlocking mating ritual, often termed as “mate guarding.” This is carried out on the host, which starts around 24 hours after the flea’s first blood meal. The duration of this mating event spans from 2 to 157 minutes, averaging around 60 minutes for initial copulations.

10. Mayflies

After transforming from an aquatic nymph to a terrestrial adult, mayflies have only 24 hours at best to find a mate and reproduce. Groups of male bugs flutter around to attract females. When a female bug gets interested, they mate while flying around, which looks like a dance routine. The mating ritual lasts between 1 and 3 hours.

9. Ladybugs

Rather than a quick encounter, ladybugs prefer an extended intimacy that spans from 4 to 9 hours!

8. Moths

To find a mate, female moths produce a sex-attractant pheromone which proves irresistible to their male counterparts. The antennae of males pick up these scents even miles away, leading them to the source. At night, they engage in a mating dance that can last for 8 to 9 hours.

7. Grasshoppers

Male grasshoppers are usually smaller than the female. They mate by climbing onto her back and placing his antennae on her body. This unique ritual may last from 45 minutes to 24 hours.

6. Praying Mantis

Male mantises approach their potential partners carefully, aware that they could become food instead of mate. If successful, mating can take around 3 hours up to 2 whole days. Female praying mantises sometimes devour their mates after copulation. This behavior is known as sexual cannibalism. This act doesn’t always occur. But when it does, it usually begins before the mating process is even complete.

5. Squash Bugs

Squash bugs have multiple mating sessions with different partners throughout their lives. During copulation, they connect at their posterior ends and remain affixed as a singular unit. This bonding can last anywhere from a brief 2 minutes to an astonishing 23 hours! 

4. Scorpions

Male and female scorpions partake in a ‘dance’, carefully aligning their bodies. When he’s found the perfect position, the male deposits his genetic material, which the female retrieves, marking the end of their ‘dance’. Scorpions mate for around 26-36 hours.

3. Fire Bugs

These small red and black spotted bugs latch onto each other, usually at the abdomen, to mate. This copulation process can last from just a few minutes to an astonishing 7.5 days. This prolonged mating duration allows them to ensure successful reproduction.

2. Southern Green Stink Bugs

These bugs certainly don’t rush things. They often remain joined in mating for up to a whopping 10 days. Their mating dance is a peculiar sight, involving a display of vibrant green colors and awkward movements.

1. Stick Insects

Stick insects hold the record for the longest insect mating session, extending up to 1400 hours or several weeks. This lengthy copulation may provide some level of protection for the female from other males. Interestingly, the male stick insect doesn’t just hit it and quit it. After these marathon copulation sessions, the male tends to stick around for repeated matings with the female.