Acrobatic Love Making
Couple of Cairns Birdwing Butterflies mating, female bigger and on top, male smaller, more colourful at the bottom.
The males mate with the females just after they have emerged from the pupa, even before their wings are dry. So at a very young age, the female Birdwing is ready to start laying eggs and repeats the life cycle again for the next generation.
As soon as adult butterflies hatch they mate quickly because they only live for 4 to 5 weeks.
Taken at Bribie Island Butterfly House, Qld, Australia.
Acrobatic Love Making
Couple of Cairns Birdwing Butterflies mating, female bigger and on top, male smaller, more colourful at the bottom.
The males mate with the females just after they have emerged from the pupa, even before their wings are dry. So at a very young age, the female Birdwing is ready to start laying eggs and repeats the life cycle again for the next generation.
As soon as adult butterflies hatch they mate quickly because they only live for 4 to 5 weeks.
Taken at Bribie Island Butterfly House, Qld, Australia.