Tags
#365DaysWild, British butterflies, Cuckooflower, Orange-tip butterfly, Orange-tip egg, Orange-tip female, Orange-tip male
A sequence of events that unfolded before me this afternoon….
A male Orange-tip butterfly feeding on one of its favourite flowers, and the host plant for its caterpillars, the Cuckooflower.
Finished feeding on that flower, the male flies on and suddenly smells a female. Woohoo!
Sadly for him, this female has already mated, which is why she’s holding her body in that odd upright manner. He remains hopeful for a moment or two, then gets the message and flies off.
I follow the female who flies to another flower. She’s not eating so what’s she’s doing, I wonder.
Aha! Can you spot the single egg attached to the flower stalk, in the very centre of the picture? I’ll have to go back in a week or so and see if I can spot any caterpillars on these flowers.
theresagreen said:
Fab set of images and great timing – they’re not the easiest butterflies to capture!
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sconzani said:
Thanks very much. 🙂
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Toffeeapple said:
I am sure that they won’t want you to reciprocate…:-)
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sconzani said:
He he he …
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Shelly Gunderson said:
What a neat thing to witness. Great images!
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sconzani said:
Thanks, Shelly. Now to find the caterpillars. 🙂
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M.B. Henry said:
Awwww!
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sconzani said:
🙂
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discovering said:
How cool is that!!
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sconzani said:
I know, right?!
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Toffeeapple said:
How very exciting!
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sconzani said:
I did feel a little like a voyeur though … 😉
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