| Actual Image
Refused! (76)
Argus
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2416 W: 132 N: 6653]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (20877) | Recently Ulla posted the male and female Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines) nicely shown on the same image.
Here are the same individuals, the female inactive with her wings closed.
But there is a story to tell:
At first the male was very interested in the female and was chasing her until she settled. He also settled near her. This is when Ulla took her shot with both male and female resting with their wings open.
The male then fluttered close to and over the female with intent to pair with her. Up to this stage the attraction was purely visual.
When he fluttered close to her the WORKSHOP shows what the female did.
She lifted up her abdomen to show him that she had already been fertilised! After fertilisation she has the scent of male pheromones on the tip and this tells the hopeful male that it’s too late!
If she were a virgin she would vibrate her wings and lift the abdomen up slightly to facilitate copulation and there would be no male scent to deter the hopeful suitor.
I have seen this in other Pierid butterflies, but it is the first time I have seen this behaviour in Orange Tips.
After he got this message he needed to rest in the sunshine, which is what my posting shows.
Both images were taken with the camera hand-held at a distance of about two meters. After moderate cropping and size reduction the images were selectively sharpened. |
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