Rejection by Orange-tip Butterfly

Anthocharis cardamines

Today I went back to where I saw the comma butterfly and I was pleased to have captured some specific behaviour by an orange-tip butterfly.

The female (white wings with black tips) flattens her wings against the foliage, raises her abdomen and opens her valves. This is not a 'come-on' as you might expect. Rather, it is the reverse and she is signalling to the approaching male (orange wingtips) that she has already mated and that he should move on and look elsewhere. Pheromones are also believed to be involved.

He made half a dozen approaches (just to be sure she wasn't playing 'hard-to-get') before leaving.