Honeydew?

[Bob Parcelles,Jr.]

Bill,

Being a vertebrate ethologist rapidly aquiring a taste for odonate and
lep behavior I had been anticipating more reaction on this subject
also. I suggest you take it to TILS Leps  talk or even my Nature
Potpourri where  discussions do not always center on the debate between
wise use and  conservation. Moreover, the professional and amateur
scientists should undertake such a phenom with vigor, certainly not
treat it as mundane or the silly question of a tyro. 

It is nice to see a little ecology and ethology on Leps List. Thank you
for the observation.

I find it fascinating that the "quest for sperm dominance" can have
evolved so nicely in a lep. Best thread that never go started in years.

Way to go...guys!

Bob Parcelles, Jr.

--- Dale Roberts/Bill Yule <droberts03 at SNET.Net> wrote:
> 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
########################################################################
PS: My time is precocious...so Nature Potpourri ...here it is
!

BP


=====
Bob Parcelles, Jr 
Pinellas Park, FL 
Ecologist/Ethologist, RJP Associates
CEO, PROactive Ecology Solutions Group (PESG)
Institute of Ecological and Environmental Studies (IEES)
http://www.Ecology-Today.eboard.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/naturepotpourri

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