Honeydew?

[Anne Kilmer]

Dale Roberts/Bill Yule 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
> 

aw, Bill. Questions about sex make us snort and fall silent, but that's 
just a phenomenon of the human race. Besides, you set us up with your 
invitation to refrain from snickering.
(I don't have any real information, or I'd chime right in, but I sort of 
thought what you sort of thought.)
I'm baaaaack, now we can all have fun.
Anne Kilmer
South Florida


>     ----- Original Message -----
> 
>     From: Michael Klein <mailto:keps2 at flite-tours.com>
> 
>     To: droberts03 at SNET.Net <mailto:droberts03 at SNET.Net> ;
>     LEPS-L at lists.yale.edu <mailto: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>
>     [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 <mailto: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
> 




 
 ------------------------------------------------------------ 

   For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:

   http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl