Tagproboscis

Posted January 16, 20194 Comments Animal behaviour

Puddling, peeing and recycling in butterflies

Adult butterflies feed on a variety of fluids, including nectar, water, damp substrates (mud), rotting fruit, excrement and so on. The term ‘mud puddling’, or just puddling, is usually used … Continue Reading Puddling, peeing and recycling in butterflies

Posted September 19, 20182 Comments Animal behaviour

Courtship and Mating in Wood Whites

When I first saw this pair of Wood white butterflies in Spain, I did not realise that they were mating, i.e. in copula, as they were at right angles to each … Continue Reading Courtship and Mating in Wood Whites

Posted March 20, 20183 Comments Animal behaviour

The butterfly proboscis – sucking tube and mopping sponge

The butterfly proboscis (plural: proboscides) is an exquisitely evolved instrument for exploiting sources of nectar at the base of flowers. In fact it has evolved in concert – co-evolution – with … Continue Reading The butterfly proboscis – sucking tube and mopping sponge

Posted April 15, 20172 Comments Animal behaviour

Black-rimmed snout hoverfly: the Heineken Fly!

The Black-rimmed snout hoverfly, Rhingia campestris Meigen, 1822 (Diptera: Syrphidae) is a common and widespread fly which is often seen visiting flowers or resting on nearby vegetation. The larvae live … Continue Reading Black-rimmed snout hoverfly: the Heineken Fly!

Posted July 13, 20161 Comment Animal behaviour

Bees knees and tongues!

Since it’s Bees Needs week, I thought that I would put together a blog about bees using photographs I have taken recently in Scarborough and Spain. Taking photographs of bees … Continue Reading Bees knees and tongues!