Wing Tilting Habit of White Letter Hairstreaks
Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2021 1:51 pm
Being fortunate enough to live near a site where the road level rises to a point at the upper Canopy height of a large Elm tree, I have been observing the behaviour of a small colony of White Letter Hairstreaks from a position not normally afforded to most.
From this vantage point characteristic habits can be studied throughout the day when the sun is out or it is at least warm if not overcast.
One thing that has intrigued me most is that most observed specimens have a noticeable habit of tilting their closed wings at an angle of 45 to almost 90 degrees to their body length whilst resting on leaves. Sometimes the closed wings are lying flat on the leaf a horizontal plane. They seem to do this regularly as a norm and my feelings are it is a signalling posture to either to attracted a possible mate as a courtship display , or warn off others that this is their territory.
But whatever the reason it is a trait I have not observed in other species to date, but I may be wrong and it is a common practice.
I have included some photos to demonstrate this wing tilt posture just for the records of those interested.
From this vantage point characteristic habits can be studied throughout the day when the sun is out or it is at least warm if not overcast.
One thing that has intrigued me most is that most observed specimens have a noticeable habit of tilting their closed wings at an angle of 45 to almost 90 degrees to their body length whilst resting on leaves. Sometimes the closed wings are lying flat on the leaf a horizontal plane. They seem to do this regularly as a norm and my feelings are it is a signalling posture to either to attracted a possible mate as a courtship display , or warn off others that this is their territory.
But whatever the reason it is a trait I have not observed in other species to date, but I may be wrong and it is a common practice.
I have included some photos to demonstrate this wing tilt posture just for the records of those interested.