Don: You know, I work hard all day to provide for my kids, and they just aren't      impressed. Yesterday my youngest said I was getting off easy compared to a giant      water bug.

Yael: Don, do you know anything about giant water bugs?

D: Not really.

Y: Well, as part of the mating process, the female latches onto the male water bug and      cements as many as one hundred and fifty eggs to his back. Then she leaves.

D: So it's the same old story! male bug meets female bug, female bug leaves male bug.

Y: And the plot thickens. For the next month, the male is responsible for schlepping the      eggs around. And these aren't low-maintenance eggs. While in the water, the male      keeps the eggs aerated by doing deep knee bends to keep the water flowing. Plus,      he also has to spend time sunning himself at the water's edge to ward off parasites.      After three weeks, the eggs triple in size. At this point, the intensely cannibalistic male      stops eating. Otherwise, he'd end up eating his offspring as they hatch. Is that      dedication or what?

D: I guess.

Y: And you know, the male water bug isn't the only father in nature who stops eating for      the sake of his offspring. The male emperor penguin stays inland and away from food      while incubating his mate's egg over the long Arctic winter. He basically lives off his      fat reserves until his offspring hatch. So Don, you should just be thankful you're a      member of a species whose males get to eat every day.

D: I'm also thankful that I don't eat my offspring.

Y: Now that's something the kids should be thankful about!  

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