Mating

[Finman]

 

[Erichalfbee]

Wonderful shot.
I found another.



In the explanation it reads that the Queen having ben mated falls to the ground with her drone, disengages herself and leaves him dead on the ground. Is this what happens?
Bit risky falling to the ground repeatedly, I would have thought

 

[drstitson]

i would imagine that they do fall to ground as she will need to be able to scrape the drone away - needs something to get purchase on and would be difficult if not impossible in mid air.

 

[RoofTops]

All accounts I've read have the drone falling backwards from the queen leaving the endophallus in place. The drone may fall to the ground later but the queen keeps flying and removes the remains of her last suitor with her hind legs.