For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Mating Butterflies

Great Mormon (Papilio memnon) is from Asian and I took these pictures at our local butterfly house.
They fly up to 7000 feet in the Himalayas, but is most common at low elevations.
This butterfly is found in forest clearings. It is very common and is also seen amongst human habitation. It is fond of visiting flowers of Poinsettia, Jasminum, Lantana, Canna and Salvia. It usually flies 2 to 4 meters above the ground. The butterfly is known to mud-puddle. The males are much commoner than females. The female forms butlerianus and alcanor are especially uncommon.

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