Back to photostream

Cabbage Whites : Courting . . .

In a beautiful evening setting, this female Cabbage White is busy feeding. Sensing the presence of male butterflies in the vicinity, it spreads her wings and sticks its abdomen up to put off any unwanted advances. According to "Butterfly - a photographic Portrait" by Thomas Marent pg 190, "although it looks much like a come-on, this posture makes it impossible for the male to reach her abdomen to mate".

 

This image is included in a gallery "Lepidotteri" curated by Eugenio Pighi.

5,959 views
91 faves
382 comments
Uploaded on October 8, 2016
Taken on January 6, 2011