Plains Cupid (Part 2)

  

                                 Plains Cupid in the process of mating                                                            

A male butterfly has several methods of determining whether he has found a female of his own species. One way is by sight. The male will look for butterflies with wings that are the correct color and pattern. When a male sights a potential mate it will fly closer, often behind or above the female. Once closer, the male will release special chemicals, called pheromones, while it flutters its wings a bit more than usual.  The male may also do a special "courtship dance" to attract the female. These "dances" consist of flight patterns that are peculiar to that species of butterfly. If the female is interested she may join the male's dance. The butterflies mate by joining together end to end at their abdomens. During the mating process, when their bodies are joined, the exchange of hormones takes place and the female is fertilized. The male butterfly often dies soon after mating.