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Mating Sequence of the Lime Butterfly

on 9th November 2013

“The female Lime Butterfly (Papilio demoleus malayanus) eclosed at 10.30 am this morning. I took it out of the box and left it drying on the snake weed (Stachytarpheta indica) (above). The total number of hours that the female Lime Butterfly stayed on the snake weed was around 4 hours.

“While hanging on to the plant and drying itself, it started pumping out pheromones to attract the males of the species. Within two hours a male appeared and offered his services, which the female accepted (above).

“I noticed when the two were attached to each other end to end, the female’s last abdomen segment seemed to have retracted into itself so that it can accept the male’s sex organs which was inserted into the receptacle offered by the female.

“On breaking apart after the mating sequence, the female’s last segment of the abdomen was observed to still have a notch (above), and after about 15 minutes the notch was filled up to its’ normal pointed shape (below).

“The above account is a layman’s observation.”

KC Tsang
Singapore
13th March 2013

Visit this LINK to view the life history of the Lime Butterfly.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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