Male water striders summon predators to blackmail females into having sex →
Water strider sex begins unceremoniously: the male mounts the female without any courtship rituals or foreplay. She may resist but if she does, he starts to actively strum the water surface with his legs. Each vibration risks attracting the attention of a hungry predator, like a fish or backswimmer. And because the female is underneath, she will bear the brunt of any assault.
