Female of the species
Posted by ESC on November 07, 1999
In Reply to: Female of the species deadlier than the male. posted by bluebaron on November 05, 1999
: Predates old Rudyard...probably used by old "Shake-a-Lance" ("Beware, the female of the species!"). Also, from anthropology and zoology, the female of the species is quite often deadlier than the male. Think of the "queen bee", praying mantis, black widow spiders, and lionesses.
Interesting! Let me know if you do find the origin of the phrase. But here's the thing. Females animals are deadly for a reason -- protecting their young for example. Humans, particularly the male of the species, have cornered the market on senseless violence.