Interesting Behaviuour
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 6:31 pm
Whilst watching Heath Fritillaries at Haddon Hill, I came across a couple in copulo.
As I watched them another male joned them and, whilst facing the wrong way, bent his abdomen back at nearly 180 degrees to try to displace the other male.
The original male actually kicked the interloper out of the way, which I have luckily caught in the attached photograph.
The original pair remained locked for over an hour, and the female climbed down the bracken and went deep into the undergrowth - presumably to wait for fertilisation to take place, and to lay.
A fascinating afternoon.
As I watched them another male joned them and, whilst facing the wrong way, bent his abdomen back at nearly 180 degrees to try to displace the other male.
The original male actually kicked the interloper out of the way, which I have luckily caught in the attached photograph.
The original pair remained locked for over an hour, and the female climbed down the bracken and went deep into the undergrowth - presumably to wait for fertilisation to take place, and to lay.
A fascinating afternoon.