Honeydew?

[Dale Roberts/Bill Yule]

Michael,
             Thanks for taking the time to reply to my question.  If you could direct me to any sources or references that might discuss this aspect of lepidopteran ethology I would appreciate that greatly.  Apparently either my question was too mundane or others on the list have no interest in this behavior.  Yours was the only serious response to my question.  I find it a little discouraging that when one has a sincere question about butterfly behavior and one tries to use the internet as a tool to educate oneself so many knowledgable people are silent.  Thanks again.

                                             Bill Yule
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Michael Klein 
  To: droberts03 at SNET.Net ; LEPS-L at lists.yale.edu 
  Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2002 8:22 PM
  Subject: RE: Honeydew?


  My understanding is that they are courting.  I believe he is checking to see if she is a virgin or not in preparation for mating.

   

  Michael Klein

  San Diego

   

  -----Original Message-----
  From: owner-leps-l at lists.yale.edu [mailto:owner-leps-l at lists.yale.edu]On Behalf Of Dale Roberts/Bill Yule
  Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2002 2:42 PM
  To: LEPS-L at lists.yale.edu
  Subject: Honeydew?

   

  Hi all.

      If you all can suppress the  urge to snicker I have a serious question about a behavior I witnessed on Thursday that was unfamiliar to me.  As silly as this sounds it happened, I saw it and now I'm asking:  Do butterflies exchange honeydew? Can one butterfly nectar on the secretions of another?  Watching a butterfly garden in Connecticut I was observing the interactions of a male and female Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus). While the female was nectaring on a flower blossom the male landed behind her and repeatedly nipped at the end of her abdomen. This action was deliberate and repetitive, occurring about ten times in rapid succession.  I could not see if the male was extending his proboscis but the impression was one of an insect nectaring on the honeydew secretion of another in the way ants nectar on the secretions of aphids.  Each individual contact was brief, followed by the male pulling the head back and then contacting the female abdomen tip again.  What's going on here?  I've never noticed this before.  Thanks in advance and if this is common behavior please excuse my naivety.

   

                                  Bill Yule

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