Can Female Orange Tips Mate More Than Once

[Paul Harfield]

I was recently observing a female Orange Tip egg laying on Garlic Mustard. After laying several eggs a male flew in to give the female some attention. I was expecting the female to display rejection behaviour with a raised abdomen, but this did not happen. The female appeared to be welcoming the attention and it looked like mating was imminent. I did not see them mate but is it possible that an already mated female can mate again

[Padfield]

The females of some species do mate more than once. I don't know if orange tips do but research has shown a connection between male longevity and female polyandry - there is clear benefit in males living longer if females remain in principle available, rather than being deflowered in the first few days of their lives then no longer interested in sex. Now, male orange tips are very long lived, I think. They are still patrolling for females in early July, long after most spring species have given up. So it wouldn't surprise me to learn the females were polyandrous.

Guy