Which insect is famous for cannibalistic mating behavior?

• A. Praying mantis
• B. Mosquito
• C. Beetle
• D. Dragonfly

Answer: (A)

Sexual cannibalism during mating is a well-known behavior in praying mantises. In many encounters, the female may attack and eat the male while or after they mate. This can provide essential nutrients that support the female’s egg production and the development of offspring. The mating itself can still occur with fertilization happening before cannibalism in some cases, but the act of cannibalism becomes a famous part of how these insects reproduce in popular science and education. This pattern is not universal across all insects, and the other options—mosquito, beetle, and dragonfly—don’t have this iconic association with cannibalistic mating behavior.