Small tortoiseshell

Today's the day ....................................... for a bit of hanky panky

I haven't seen many butterflies at all this summer - probably because it has been so cold and wet - but there was a small tortoishell in the garden today. It wasn't very active but just sat resting on a stone slab with its wings open, perhaps waiting for a passing female.

When a female enters the territory of a male, a most curious courtship begins. The male approaches the female from behind and starts to "drum" his antennae on her hindwings, making a feint sound that is audible to the human ear. The female may fly a little distance, with the male following, where the process repeats. This can go on for several hours with the couple spending a good amount of time basking together. Eventually, usually in early evening, the female will lead the male into vegetation, often a nettle patch, and crawl between stems with the male following, where they eventually mate.

Nothing unusual there then - you are probably thinking?! If you want see it in glorious technicolour have a look here.......................