Cockroaches are not usually associated with romance. Yet one species has a courtship ritual unlike almost anything else in the animal kingdom.

A wood-dwelling cockroach from Taiwan, Salganea taiwanensis, forms long-term male-female pairs that can remain together for life while raising their young inside decaying logs.

Before or shortly after mating, the partners begin chewing off each other's wings.

The process is surprisingly cooperative. The cockroaches are not fighting or attacking one another. Instead, each partner carefully nibbles away the other's wings until little remains.

Scientists believe the behavior may serve several purposes. Once the pair settles into a narrow tunnel inside a rotting log, wings are no longer very useful. Removing them may make it easier to move through the wood. The wing-chewing may also help strengthen the bond between partners.

Researchers found that after forming a pair, these cockroaches become highly loyal to one another. They often reject potential new mates and work together to defend their home from intruders.

For these cockroaches, a lasting partnership starts with giving up the ability to fly.