Honeydew?

Dale Roberts/Bill Yule droberts03 at SNET.Net
Mon Sep 23 13:06:12 EDT 2002


Good to have you baaaaack Anne.
       Actually I eventually got some very good replies to my question (in
addition to Michael Klein) especially from Robert Dana who gave an excellent
explanation based on observations he made while rearing various leps:  The
male must get the female off the flower and flying to approach her and
disperse androconia to stimulate her to mating receptivity.  Since I posted
this question I have repeatedly seen this behavior in migrant Skippers here
in southern Connecticut, the male lands behind the female on a flower head
and bumps her in the abdomen with his head.  She then flies and he chases
after her, presumably to mate.
     "Come on Honey finish that drink and let's get up and dance!"  :>}

                 Bill Yule
----- Original Message -----
From: "Anne Kilmer" <viceroy at GATE.NET>
To: <droberts03 at SNET.Net>
Cc: <keps2 at flite-tours.com>; <LEPS-L at lists.yale.edu>
Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 11:52 AM
Subject: Re: Honeydew?


> 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
> >
>
>
>
>
>
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