Sparring Bugs Question

[MexicoDoug at aol.com]

Chris,  kamikaze knife-winged chariots right here in our back yard.  Time to get off my butt for a little field research on this.  I wonder if the cats of your recommendation are sabertoothed, too¿
 

> 
> Actually there is a samurai butterfly that has been taken in the US at 
> Laredo. *Pyrrhostictus victorinus* (Dbld. 1844) has a serrate saber-form 
> costa as do other members of what Rothschild & Jordan called the "Homeris 
> Group" of *Papilio*.
>    There is also the Asiatic pierid *Hebomoia glaucippe* that is renowned 
> for its tree-top duels. Again it has a saw-tooth costa in the male.
> ...................Chris Durden
> 
> At 09:10 AM 10/24/2002 +0100, you wrote:
> >Doug,
> >
> >I just read Chip's answer concerning the ping-pong ball....this is a great 
> >description...the thing is that reflex action comes into play...whenever 
> >and whatever threatens the butterfly...when it has no interest in 
> >defending a territory. Stopping to check what is that's chasing you, 
> >before you take action is not a good survival strategy!
> >
> >As for your questions
> >
> >  >>>Has anyone ever seen (an confirmed) a female participate in sparring 
> > (not just fleeing)?<<<
> >
> >I have never seen a female participating in this action, she has much more 
> >to lose as she is carrying the next generation...males are more expendable!
> >
> > >>Exactly what damage has been observed inflicted in any case of sparring 
> > butterflies?<<<
> >
> >Some examples...The costal vein of the forewing in the African Charaxes 
> >are serrated and sharp. Charaxes are strongly territorial...I have seen 
> >wings cut clean off in fights. Caligos from Central and South American 
> >also lose wings in interaction... these attacks are often directed at the 
> >junction of the costal vein..and complete wing loss is not uncommon.
> >
> > >>>The African Migrations of Libythea## (I looked at the link below and 
> > see just how similar the your world's "Beaks" are to our world's 
> > "Snouts") you have observed were quite interesting.  I would not exactly 
> > say that the aggression is forgotton during dramatic migrations here, 
> > depending on the moods of the participants, as there are always a few 
> > bugs somewhere in the trees that interrupt the random masses with 
> > challenges to send them packing.  But that is more of a complementary 
> > observation when there are trees, etc. around.<<<
> >
> >We also call them Snouts...I have never head of them being called "Beaks" 
> >but there again I tend to use Latin names when discussing species. What I 
> >meant about aggression in the migrating butterflies....was that there was 
> >no aggression between the migrating butterflies.
> >
> >regards
> >Nigel
> 
> 
> 
> 
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