Mate guarding

Mate guarding is a reproductive behaviour, primarily of males, in an attempt to increase the likelihood of success of their own sperm fertilizing the eggs of females when competition is involved.

In organisms where polygamy is dominant such as in most mammals, birds, and insects, there is significant male-male competition even prior to copulation.

In some dragonflies, males will physically hold females after copulation to increase the chances that their own sperm fertilize the eggs laid.

[6] Mate guarding by males comes with costs for them in terms of reduced time available for feeding and other activities.

[8] Female strategies can include multiple mating to ensure that they obtain fitter sperm to pass on benefits to their offspring and so mate guarding can sometimes appear as a hindrance to them, however females may also receive other benefits such as protection from predation through the actions of the guarding males.