Tortoiseshells

Today's the day .................. for hanky panky

It's hard to tell the difference between male and female small tortoiseshell butterflies, going just on appearance alone.  It's more the way they behave that is the deciding factor.

Males will sit near a foodplant with their wings open, waiting for a female to enter the territory. When she flies close he will follow her through the air performing an unusual mating dance where he drums his antennae on her wings.  If this pleases her - and she approves of him, mating will then take place.  

They can often be spotted basking together to recuperate - which I think is what is going on here ................!