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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
Reproductive Behavior in an Overwintering Aggregation of Monarch Butterflies
Contributor:
Hill,, H. Frederick;
Wenner, Adrian M.;
Wells, Patrick H.
imprint:
University of Notre Dame, 1976
Published in:The American Midland Naturalist
Language:
English
ISSN:
0003-0031;
1938-4238
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
<p>Mating is an important part of the daily activities of monarch butterflies in late winter in southern California. Mating activity increased steadily from late January 1972 until late February 1972. During the final week of February this activity decreased, coincident with the dispersal of butterflies from their clustering areas. Prior to mating, males pursue, capture and overcome resistance by female butterflies. In flights of mated pairs only males flap their wings. In over-wintering areas male monarchs apparently do not signal females as reported for other danaid butterflies. Males frequently pursue and attempt copulation with other males; but since they more frequently pursue and capture females, they are evidently able to discriminate between the sexes. Females disappear from the clustering sites earlier than males and shortly thereafter deposit eggs on local milkweed.</p>