Honeydew?

[Grkovich, Alex]

I also notoiced Peck's Skippers doing this since I first saw the posts on
this. I don't think it's a "laughing matter". It's science.
   Alex
PS Welcome back, from me, too, Anne.

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Dale Roberts/Bill Yule [SMTP:droberts03 at SNET.Net]
> Sent:	Monday, September 23, 2002 1:06 PM
> To:	Anne Kilmer
> Cc:	keps2 at flite-tours.com; LEPS-L at lists.yale.edu
> Subject:	Re: Honeydew?
> 
> 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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