David Element
Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images
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Butterflies 62 – Black-veined Whites
BLACK-VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLY Aporia crataegi (f)
BLACK-VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLY Aporia crataegi (f)
BLACK-VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLY Aporia crataegi (f)
BLACK-VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLY Aporia crataegi (f)
BLACK-VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLY Aporia crataegi (f)
BLACK-VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLY Aporia crataegi (f)
BLACK-VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLIES Aporia
crataegi (m, f)
BLACK-VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLIES Aporia
crataegi (m, f)
BLACK-VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLIES Aporia
crataegi (m, f)
BLACK-VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLIES Aporia
crataegi (m, f)
BLACK-VEINED
WHITE BUTTERFLIES Aporia crataegi (m, f)
·
These Black-veined White Butterflies Aporia crataegi were photographed in the Hautes-Pyrénéés (on a late
date so it must have been a second brood adult) and Switzerland. This species
unfortunately became extinct in the UK in 1923 for unknown reasons but as the population
was known to have fluctuated greatly parasitism could be implicated (although
this has not yet been proven). During courtship the females hold the males
between their wings causing scales to be shed and the affected areas will become
transparent (see photographs). This apparently odd behaviour could be
associated with pheromones but again no clear-cut explanation is available. The
loss of scales does not affect the ability of the butterflies to fly but it is
possible that this is purely associated with the friction between the wings and
that there is either no biological purpose or one that remains to be discovered.
·
David’s film illustrating courtship behaviour in
Black-veined White Butterflies may be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ93U1gJdYU&list=PL4AirIEc0NofhDbxohAG_PoMc7P2iGR5N&index=45&t=0s.
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