Live Science has the full story of the "Detachable Penis":
Several types of male spiders and other insects engage in risky sex, which, in the orb-web spider Nephilengys malabarensis, ends in about 75 percent of them being eaten by the female. But, even if they escape their mate's grasp, they lose one or both of their palps (penises) along the way.
Several types of male spiders and other insects engage in risky sex, which, in the orb-web spider Nephilengys malabarensis, ends in about 75 percent of them being eaten by the female. But, even if they escape their mate's grasp, they lose one or both of their palps (penises) along the way.
The broken-off organ efficiently plugs the female's genital opening, making sure other males can't fertilize her; a study reported in January that these detached palps (penises) continue to pump sperm into the female. Sometimes only one of her two openings, called the epigynum, gets plugged, meaning there's room for another male to squeeze in and inseminate her.
If they survive the female's cannibalism, the male spiders stay nearby, guarding her from other males that might try to dislodge the plap plug and inseminate their female. Interestingly, these eunuch males usually win fights with other, intact, males.
Removing one palp reduced the spider's body weight by 4 percent, removing both reduced their weight by 9 percent. In turn, their endurance increased 32 percent in half-eunuchs and 80 percent in full eunuchs. This supports what the researchers called a "gloves-off" mating strategy. The spiders have nothing to live for other than protecting their potential offspring. They are able to fend off other males because they are lighter in weight after dispensing their palps.
And did you know that one hit wonder King Missile had a hit song with "Detachable Penis"? Watch the nightmare song below:
