www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I made a cheap post the other day regarding Small Tortoiseshells mating. Since then I have searched my memory bank and cannot definitively pronounce that I have ever seen any of the UK Vanessids actually participating in the act of pairing.

I observed two Tortoiseshells on Saturday which were obviously courting (jousting in the air but landing astride one another whereupon both sexes clearly demonstrated a tolerance of (if not an acceptance) the other.

Why is this such a rarity to see? I accept that the principle means of defence for Vanessids is swift, powerful flight allied to bright colours arranged in such a way that when wings are opened quickly might temporarily stun a marauding bird. Is that a contributory factor? Are they so lacking in camouflage that they have to resort to mating out of sight?

Maybe I'm being too simplistic; in fact, maybe I'm the only one on here who has never witnessed Tortoiseshells, Peacocks, Red Admirals, Commas and Painted Ladies actually mating. Yet despite being a member on here for 18 months+, I do not recall ever seeing a photo of any of these aforementioned species in the act of pairing.

So, has anyone ever witnessed this and if so, is there any photographic evidence (and if not, is there a rational explanation?)

I agree - a very rare sight indeed! There's a nice pic of a pair of Commas posted on the Suffolk BC Twitter feed:
And I was kindly send this photo by Richard Roebuck of Small Torts:
The Purple Empire website also has photos of mating Purple Emperor somewhere (can't seem to find them at this hour!).

Why the Vanessids are so elusive is beyond me!

Cheers,

- Pete

It must be because they first disappear deep into the undergrowth (several folk have described Small Tortoiseshells doing just that, and it's something I observed last spring), or hide modestly high up in trees. The accounts I've read of Purple Emperors observed mating seem to all have involved the couple falling out of the tree in which they were perched.

It's also amazing that during the phenomenal Painted Lady migration of 2009, I cannot recall a report of mating, let alone a picture.

Dave

Pete Eeles wrote:There's a nice pic of a pair of Commas posted on the Suffolk BC Twitter feed

Hi Pete,

That link doesn't work for me - is it just me?

Thanks

Lee

If anyone captures an image of red admirals in cop that would be a real scoop. As far as I am aware, mating in this species has been observed (and recorded) in Blighty on only a couple of occiasions.

Felix.

Lee Hurrell wrote:

Pete Eeles wrote:There's a nice pic of a pair of Commas posted on the Suffolk BC Twitter feed

Hi Pete,

That link doesn't work for me - is it just me?

Thanks

Lee

Fixed

Cheers,

- Pete

Both the photos (and many thanks for posting them) of mating Vanessids leave me even more confused. The two pairs have wings closed meaning that they are very well camouflaged, somewhat exploding my theory that their bright colours means that they have to retreat to the undergrowth to indulge in this activity.

I'm perplexed by this...after all, I've seen Graylings, Meadow/Hedge Browns, Whites, Blues, etc mating many, many times, but never Vanessids in spite of their often relative abundance.

How many people on this forum have actually observed this?