THE COURTSHIP OF BUTTERFLIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 31 July 1929, Page 6

THE COURTSHIP OF BUTTERFLIES

: jr There ;are male butterflies which miike a lavish use of perfume in conducting their love affairs. In the manner of human lovers, they make presents of scent to the objects of their affections. The scent is secreted in glands in the wings. When occasion demands it is extracted by tiny "brushes" attached to the insects' "tails." After the brushes have been well dipped in the scent they are expanded to their fullest extent, so that the perfume may mingle thoroughly with the air. Dr. H. Eltringham, who has made a special study of scent-carrying insects, told a reporter that the perfume has the effect of causing the females to fall in love, so to speak. He added: "There are also certain species of butterflies in whose brushes are developed large numbers of delicate filaments which break up into an exceedingly fine dust, so that the brushes really act as powder-puffs. When the male approaches the female in cpurtship it gently and caressingly 'powders' her. This little attention apparently flatters and delights the 'lady.One of the greatest marvels among scentcarrying insects is the Caddis fly, which carries its scent gland and brush on the back of its head, which is less than onefiftieth of an inch across at its widest part. When not in use the brush is. protected behind folding 'doors'."