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Last week while visiting Suffolk to see the Willow Damselflies, I noticed some unusual behavior a comma chasing off a migrant hawker, it was very aggressive and easily saw off the dragonfly, I have never seen this before.

Last night I witnessed it again, this time a painted lady with a hawker species.

Is this behavior common and I have just missed it all these years or is it unusual, I would be interested to hear any comments on this behavior.

Thanks

Mark

hmm, I have not seen that before, the nearest thing I have seen is a male common blue fend of its area from a passing DG Fritillary. The Dark green was chased for ages by the common blue, I was surprised that something that much smaller than it could chase it off!

I have noticed smaller butterflies mobbing larger ones. This is a similar thing to rooks and crows mobbing buzzards. Also i have seen wood pigeons mobbing crows. The strangest thing i have witnessed tho, was a Tortoiseshell getting frisky with a Painted Lady. It was on top, and both seemed to be enjoying the experience. They eventually flew off together, tumbling, and giggling in the evening sun. Sorry to wander off topic.

Male commas are very aggressive when requiring to mate, staking out territory and basking for long periods only to rise when an interloper arrives. The behaviour seems more acute in the spring, perhaps because after a long winter hibernation the impetus to mate is higher. The tresspassing species can be other butterflies or insects, and I've even seen large bumble bees sent packing. Of course commas are partially double brooded with hutchinsoni forms in mid-summer so perhaps it is an unlucky individual of this form that you saw. The behaviour will not be as noticeable with the late summer emerged forms as they prepare for hibernation in the autumn. Peacocks only adopt this behaviour in the spring since they are single brooded. I've watched various spring butterflies and there appears to be a definite pecking order, with comma being the most aggressive, followed by peacock, and the pierids low down on the scale.

I have also seen adonis blue males tussle with common blue holding them and wresting them to the ground before releasing them. First brood competition can get quite hectic when dingy skipper males also join in.