Two native butterflies in a mating dance, Heraclides androgeus epidaurus

Two native butterflies in a mating dance, Heraclides androgeus epidaurus

These Heraclides androgeus epidaurus were brought to my garden by the massive flowering of an ice cream bean tree. Normally it is very difficult to photograph this courtship behaviour since it normally occurs high in the canopy but in this case the incredible abundance of food and the large number of other butterflies in the area seem to have made these ones throw caution to the winds. Getting a photo of these fast flying butterflies showing their courtship behavior was an stunning stroke of luck. The male is the yellow one.

These large butteflies are not particularly rare but since they normally live on forested areas few Puerto Ricans ever get to see them this close.

LABELS: ANDROGEUS, BUTTERFLY, EPIDAURUS, HERACLIDES, INSECTS,MATING, NATIVE, PUERTO RICO, SEXguzmancreations