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'ZDUI DGXOWV – are usually the output of larval starvation. pencils over the female (illustr 15) releasing pheromones.
Dwarf African Queens with wing span of 24.8-27.2 mm Receptive female will land for mating.
(n=4 adults – illustr. 12) are two thirds (67%) the size Mating starts usually at noon time and lasts in mid-
of regular adults with wingspan of 36.2-41.7 mm (n=41 summer for about five and a half hours until ~ two hours
adults) appear rarely in Israeli wild population, but in before sunset, but if mating starts later in the afternoon © Ofir Tomer
breeding farms also as a complete rare “normal” brood it will procceed a bit later and for shorter time. The length
(Dan Sharon pers. comm. to DB). The reasons are not of mating time is sometimes dictated by the male; on
clear and instead of speculations we leave it to future 19 Sept. 2013 a strange couple was observed in DB’s
researchers. breeding cage; where a female was drugging a weak male
that later was observed hanging dead below her. A day © Dubi Benyamini
$GXOWV SROOLQDWLRQ WUDSV – during 60 + years of experimental later they were still in cop. and the female tried to get © Dubi Benyamini
breeding of thousands chrysippus (since 1958, but not in rid of him by dragging his corpse among dense vegetation aestivating larva
years of their absence) DB observed and documented only while his claspers were locked on her abdomen tip. But
four times when proboscis or leg of nectaring chrysippus she did not succeed and…started to lay eggs over his body
where caught by a Milkweed’s flower trap: On 17 June (Benyamini, 2013e). The next relevant record showed a
2010 DB bred chrysippus larvae on the invasive Araujia different scenario; on 6 July 2015 afternoon an in cop.
sericifera (Apocynaceae ex Asclepiadaceae) and found a pair was observed on 15:00, three hours later at 18:03 © Dubi Benyamini © Shalev Weisman
dead male that could not escape its flower’s pollination the female moved down and pulled 30-45° sidewise for
trap, hanging by its proboscis – illustr. 13 (Benyamini, separation, than she opened and closed her wings, took
2010e). In summer-fall 2020 DB bred dorippus & crossed nectar from flowers of Basil, Pentas and Heliotropium
it with local chrysippus (see above). Of over 500 bred (both genders do not feed while mating, even if they stand
specimens three adults were involved with pollination on flowers) and flew to disturb males that were ready to
traps; on 18 Sept. 2020 a female was caught at noon sleep. On 18:15, 12 minutes after her afternoon mating
time by flower of Asclepias curassavica she was not in she mated again. In 18:47 she pulled out for separation
panic and kept pulling her proboscis until 17:00 when the from the second male, then bent her abdomen as for laying © Dubi Benyamini
flower released her without the pollen. On 25 Sept. 2020 eggs but did it to wipe the edge of her abdomen three times
a chrysippus leg was found inside A. curassavica flower against the wall net of the breeding cage, flew to a Basil
trap once again it did not fulfil its function and no pollen plant for nectaring and remained there for the night. This
was carried outside the flower. Finally on 7 Nov. 2020 at interesting scenario showed that a chrysippus female has
09:15 a leg of female dorippus was caught in a flower full control on mating times and possibly even selection of
of A. currasavica this time it took her three hours to pull her mates aiming to get missing spermatophores amount
the pollinium and fly with it to the next flower (Benyamini, she needed (DB, breeding notes). The maximum mating
2020n). time in Israel was a pair that remained in cop. for two
The flower’s trap is operated when a fork-like corpusculum complete days (48 hours); it was possibly a combination
inside the milkweed flower catches the proboscis or a leg of cloudy cold days and an “old” couple. © Dubi Benyamini © Dubi Benyamini © Dubi Benyamini
(only leg in bees) and force the insect to pull the pollinium Average number of female matings in Rhopalocera is parasitized egg
outside and carry it with the pollen to the next flower. It between one and two times because a female usually gets
also happens to other butterflies; Torben Larsen sent enough spermatophores in a single mating with a young
DB a B&H photograph of a trapped Papilio demodocus male and sometimes needs one more. Not so in Danaus
(Papilionidae). Ofir Tomer video filmed an adult Melitaea chrysippus females that may mate five times or more (DB,
syriaca (Nymphalidae) on 20 Sept. 2006 trapped by flower breeding notes & Steve Collins pers. comm.) 0 mm1
of Cynanchum acutum (Apocynaceae ex Asclepiadaceae). © Dubi Benyamini © Dubi Benyamini © Dubi Benyamini
DB found a dead male Anapheis aurota (Pieridae) that on 5RRVWLQJ: Danaus chrysippus adults spend the night in
6 Sept. 2009 was trapped by a flower of A. sericifera; in communal roosting. In a large breeding cage of DB in Beit
this exceptional case both antennae and proboscis were Arye (C Israel) on 9 July 2015 adults started to look for an © Dubi Benyamini
caught also between two petals (Benyamini, 2009f) - see overnight sleeping place in the afternoon and finish to do
Pollination traps in Vol I. Our limited information suggests so about two hours before sunset. Finally eleven males
that such traps are not aimed (evolutionary) to catch and females landed on a vertical steel wire hanging from
butterflies because pulling by the tongue (= proboscis) is the cag’s top, where they found a safe place to sleep (DB,
not as strong (and successful) as pulling by legs of bees. breeding notes).

&RXUWLQJ DQG 0DWLQJ 7HUULWRULDOLW\ The African Queen is not a territorial species
Land courtship ritual starts when male approaches the except if attacked by other species; on 19 August 2018 a © Alex Oz
female opening and closing its wings. Receptive females male was flying near Ein Afeq nature reserve in W Galilee, n. ab. mishan, Benyamini 2021.
stand quite with closed wings, the male approaches from along a dirt road bordered with Tamarix trees with its LHP Israel, HaShofet stream, 120 m, 20 Aug. 2021
the side align along the female and bend his abdomen Cynanchum acutum climber. Entering a territory of male
sidewise to the female’s genitalia for mating, then they Pelopidas thrax this large skipper immediately attacked
turn faces away, her wings between his wings and she the penetrating Danaid but the larger peaceful Queen
hangs herself below him in the air, but in windy weather changed its manners and stated to fight the skipper
she grips a nearby branch to prevent falling down - illustr. “pushing” it far out of its territory. However it did not
14. When disturbed in cop. male carries the female in remain there to celebrate its victory and flew out of sight
flight. Rejective female fly away, or flip / vibrate her wings (Benyamini, 2008g). On 31 Oct. 2021 a similar scenario
and lift her abdomen to repel the male. Isolated females took place inside the Klil Butterfly Park in Karmiel N Israel,
that were introduced to males started courting by flattering but this time it was a territorial Polyommatus icarus that © Dubi Benyamini
around them or landing on them – unusual behaviour for was driven out its territory by a patrolling chrysippus male
butterfly females. In aerial courting male extract his hair (DB pers. obs.). © Yaron Mish'an

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2Butterflies of the Levant danaidae satyridae.indd 34 12/30/2021 4:21:17 PM 2Butterflies of the Levant danaidae satyridae.indd 47 12/30/2021 4:22:04 PM