FW: Butterflies Behaving Badly...

[Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX]

A couple of perhaps interesting observations on this thread. Some years ago
while watching a female Parnassius eversmanni flying above the tundra of
Keno Hill, Yukon; a male seemingly came out of nowhere in full flap and
crashed into her with an audible sound -- further events transpired on the
ground.  I was also intrigued locally to have seen a male Speyeria leto
firmly affixed to the abdomen of a Sheep Moth. Flutterbugs do have some
interesting behaviours :-)

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Cherubini [mailto:monarch at saber.net] 
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2001 10:09 AM
To: LEPS-L at lists.yale.edu
Subject: Re: Butterflies Behaving Badly...


M.B. Prondzinski wrote:

> What I've observed with all the varying
> species present in the constrictions of the tent, is the cross-species
> "interest" in the Queens!  

> I've found them in tussles with Monarchs on the ground, refusing sexual
> advances as best as they can...
> 
> Today, I observed for first time, the successful coupling of a worn male
> Monarch with an equally aged and shredded female Queen...odd since there
> were plenty of individuals of both species present to mate with (!)  

Yes, male monarchs are famous aerial takedowns and mating attempts 
with other species and also with other male monarchs.  In fact, in the
latter case monarch biologists call this behavior "homo courtship".

Biologists generally agree pheromones are not involved in monarch
male/female interactions. The males simply grab females out of the
air then forcibly attempt to copulate with them in a strenuous ground 
stuggle with the female always resisting.  Not exactly a story book
romance!

It was interesting to hear you saw Zebra Longwings also interested in 
Queens based on largely on sight alone (apparently) as the prevailing dogma
seems to be that mating in Heliconids is all based on pheromones.

Paul Cherubini

 
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