I always feel an enormous pleasure whenever I find a mating pair of Small Coppers
Given the size of the Dungeness population and the many hours I've spent there watching Small Coppers it is interesting to note how rarely I come across them (only four times this year)
How they end up that way is itself an interesting topic: just what does Small Copper courtship amount to?
My previous posts have shown how non-receptive females deal with undesired males, ie, The Turkey Strut. No mating takes place and the butterflies go their separate ways.
But here's an example of a female who when approached by a male did NOT go into Turkey Strut mode
The males gymnastic efforts however went unrewarded as she flew off with him in pursuit. I could not re-find them and so do not know whether they successfully coupled.
However, here's another similar situation where again the female did not do the Turkey Strut
where matters progressed further.
I had not seen any chase prior to this behaviour but there might very well have been.
When I come across a mated pair I take a note of how long they remain coupled while I'm there. These two were already together when I found them
and remained joined for 10 minutes thereafter
when they simply walked away from each other and went their separate ways
Another pair that I found this year
remained coupled for 22 minutes when, for no reason apparent to me, they took off as one and flew away
This took me completely by surprise and in my clumsy efforts to chase after them I stumbled and fell, grazing my chin on the pebbles. At my age I really should know better..
But in observing these two I noticed the female repeatedly pushing against the male with her hind legs whilst at the same time heaving herself forwards ( as if she were attempting to disconnect herself from him ). The male did nothing despite her continual efforts.
And this put me in mind of a pair I photographed in 2014
You can see the female pushing with her hind leg, just as the female in the above photographs taken this year.
And if you look at the pair on the Ragwort (below) you can see she is also giving him a shove with her hind legs.
So this behaviour of the female when mated whereby she will push against the male seems to be established.
I wonder why she's doing it?
The more I watch Small Coppers, the more questions I ask!
Nonetheless, a mating pair is a lovely sight
And a sign that all's right with the Small Copper World