Honeydew?
Grkovich, Alex
agrkovich at tmpeng.com
Mon Sep 23 14:06:56 EDT 2002
Added comment.
Alex
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Grkovich, Alex [SMTP:agrkovich at tmpeng.com]
> Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 1:37 PM
> To: 'droberts03 at SNET.Net'; Anne Kilmer
> Cc: keps2 at flite-tours.com; LEPS-L at lists.yale.edu
> Subject: RE: Honeydew?
>
> 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 [Grkovich, Alex] , honey .
>
> > -----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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