Changes

'''Balloon flies''' are members of the species ''Hilara'', who have evolved a complex [[mating ritual]] involving the giving of a large white balloon as a [[gift]].

'''Balloon flies''' are members of the species ''Hilara'', who have been designed with a complex [[mating ritual]] involving the giving of a large white balloon as a [[gift]].

In many species, [[female]]s will only mate with [[male]]s who come to them bearing gifts. Males who don't deliver the goods are rejected, and males bearing small gifts may only be given a short time in which to [[copulate]].  

In many species, [[female]]s will only mate with [[male]]s who come to them bearing gifts. Males who don't deliver the goods are rejected, and males bearing small gifts may only be given a short time in which to [[copulate]].  

Males can lose a lot of their mass in producing these gifts. Thus the presentation of the silk balloon is the reproductive equivalent of the ‘max out your credit card on her’ approach.

Males can lose a lot of their mass in producing these gifts. Thus the presentation of the silk balloon is the reproductive equivalent of the ‘max out your credit card on her’ approach.

The balloon fly species ''Hilara sartor'' feeds on nectar, so the actual presentation of prey would be no use to the female. However, as a culmination of this sequence of evolutionary events, the presentation of the carefully woven (but empty) balloon is a species recognition cue. <ref> http://www.holycross.edu/departments/biology/whealy/notes_text/c.text</ref> <ref>http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/PSY_324/week_10/outline.html</ref>

The balloon fly species ''Hilara sartor'' feeds on nectar, so the actual presentation of prey would be no use to the female. However, as a culmination of this sequence of evolutionary events, the presentation of the carefully woven (but empty) balloon is a species recognition cue.<ref>http://www.holycross.edu/departments/biology/whealy/notes_text/c.text</ref><ref>http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/PSY_324/week_10/outline.html</ref>

The University of Winnipeg's website makes a very good analogy:

The University of Winnipeg's website makes a very good analogy: