Even damsel flies do it

Damselflies mating on a beech leaf beside Wilket Creek in midtown Toronto. They form a heart-shape when they mate. The male grabs the female behind her head, while the female bends her body so her receptacle fits into the male's penis. The male has spoon-shaped appendages on his penis which he uses to scoop out any sperm deposited by rival males before depositing his own. The male (right) is colourful while the female is drab. During recent summers there has been an abundance of damselflies flitting and mating along Toronto’s Wilket Creek Ravine which indicates the ravine is ecologically healthy. Damselflies are voracious predators, consuming vast quantities of mosquitoes and other biting insects. So they are very beneficial to humans, as well as being a treat to watch.