’Fascinating, gruesome, counterintuitive’: University of Toronto profs explore bug sex on CBC’s The Nature of Things

U of T Scarborough biology professors Maydianne Andrade and Andrew Mason took pa
U of T Scarborough biology professors Maydianne Andrade and Andrew Mason took part in a recent episode of The Nature of Things that explored bug sex
As the most numerous animals on Earth, there’s no doubt that bugs have been getting busy.

Several University of Toronto researchers recently shared their insights into insects’ mating rituals in the Bug Sex episode of The Nature of Things, a CBC documentary series hosted by environmentalist David Suzuki.

"Sex in bugs is fascinating, gruesome, counterintuitive," says  Maydianne Andrade , professor in the department of biological science at University of Toronto Scarborough and  renowned expert on the mating habits  of cannibalistic spiders.

"It’s ridiculous in its complexity. Ridiculous in how extreme it is, and most people know nothing about it."

Andrade, who came up with the original concept for the documentary and was the story editor, appeared in the documentary alongside University of Toronto Scarborough colleague Andrew Mason, a professor and chair of the department of biological sciences who studies bug acoustics and behaviour.  Catherine Scott ,  who completed her PhD  under Andrade at University of Toronto Scarborough and is currently a post-doctoral researcher at McGill University, also took part in the documentary.

They were joined on the episode by University of Toronto Mississauga’s Darryl Gwynne, a professor emeritus of biology, and Rosalind Murray, an assistant professor of biology.

"Nature is amazing in what it generates in terms of diversity - same thing goes for the mating game," says Gwynne, who was Andrade’s PhD supervisor.

After the episode premiered on CBC’s streamer, Murray appeared on Fresh Air on CBC Radio to discuss her research into the sexual activity of an Ontario species of dance flies.

Watch the episode on CBC’s The Nature of Things

Read more at University of Toronto Scarborough

Read more at University of Toronto Mississauga

Statement of Land Acknowledgement We wish to acknowledge this land on which the University of Toronto operates. For thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.  Read about University of Toronto’s Statement of Land Acknowledgement.