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Biodiversity: The Wild World of Reproduction in Antechinus & Honey Bees
- Helen Charles
- Jul 24
- 3 min read
Reproduction in nature is wild, weird, and absolutely fascinating!
As a beekeeper, I’m naturally obsessed with pollination and the incredible connection between flowers and their pollinators that has evolved over millions of years. But recently, a different little critter caught my attention at our biodiversity farm. We’ve set up video cameras around the property to capture the comings and goings of local wildlife. It’s a fantastic way to get a behind the scenes glimpse, especially of what the nocturnal creatures get up to while we’re fast asleep. One evening, while reviewing the footage, I thought I’d spotted a mouse... but something didn’t quite add up. The pointy snout, the distinctive white ring around its eyes - and importantly, the fact that it wasn’t in the plague proportions of mice - made me look again. That’s when I realised I’d stumbled across something far more exciting: an Antechinus!
This small, insect-munching marsupial is native to Australia and belongs to the same family as the iconic Tasmanian devil. But what truly makes the Antechinus stand out isn’t just its nocturnal habits or appetite for spiders and centipedes - it’s the mind-blowing reproductive strategy of this marsupial shrew.
The Ultimate Mating Marathon
Male Antechinus live fast and die young - literally. Each winter, they embark on a two-week mating frenzy. Think non-stop action, sometimes for up to 12 hours! But here’s the downer: they die after mating.
This dramatic end is due to a spike in cortisol (the stress hormone), which shuts down their immune system and causes a total bodily collapse. One day they’re out there giving it their all… the next, they’re found peacefully expired (just like this one that I found in our shed), with no injuries - just nature running its course. Sad? A bit. But also kind of impressive. They live just long enough to pass on their genes - and go out with a bang!
This one-time, high-stakes reproductive strategy is called semelparity, or "suicidal reproduction." It’s rare in mammals but perfectly normal for Antechinus.
Honey Drone Bees: The Royal Treatment (until it gets cold!)
Of course, all this got me thinking about my favourite boys in the animal kingdom: honey drone bees. Their story is equally jaw-dropping.
Like Antechinus males, drone bees are single-minded when it comes to mating. Their only job is to fly out during the warm spring and summer months in search of a queen from another colony. When a lucky drone succeeds, he mates mid-air during her nuptial flight… and dies immediately after. Why? Because the act of mating literally causes his endophallus or penis to explode - yes, explode - inside the queen. Nature is nothing if not dramatic!!
But unlike the Antechinus, not all drones get the chance to mate. The unsuccessful ones spend their days lounging in the hive, getting fed by the tireless female worker bees. Sounds like a sweet deal… until autumn hits. With food supplies tightening, the workers stop the royal pampering treatment and kick the drones out - leaving them to perish in the cold.
Semelparity vs. Iteroparity: Biodiversity is everything.
While male Antechinus and drones might seem similar, there’s an important difference in their species’ overall reproductive strategy.
Antechinus: semelparous. The males breed once and die. Females rear the young alone.
Honey bees: iteroparous. The queen mates once (with multiple drones), but then stores the sperm and continues laying eggs (sometimes for years), keeping the colony thriving.
It’s a reminder that even in the insects and mammals, diversity is everything - not just in species, but in reproductive strategy.
Nature’s Lessons: Incursions - From our Farm to your Classroom
Here on our biodiversity farm, I’m constantly amazed by nature - and I love sharing these stories with others. Whether it's the mating marathon of the Antechinus or the aerial acrobatics of bee mating, there’s a powerful lesson in every creature’s lifecycle.
If your school, library, or community centre is looking for an educational and entertaining incursion that blends science, storytelling, and the wonderful world of pollinators, I’d love to bring the buzz your way! Our Friends with Honey incursion programs are designed to inspire curiosity, connect kids with nature, and celebrate biodiversity in all its fascinating glory.
🐝 Get in touch to learn more or book your incursion
