Mating Cabbage White Butterflies

I've seen in movies where a character is given a Rorschach test and wants to give a harmless interpretation for the image, they'll claim it looks like "two butterflies mating".

But how many people know what mating butterflies even look like? I've seen butterflies (and other insects) mating on a fair number of occasions, and below is a pair of Cabbage Whites mating. During mating, their abdomens are attached though their wings usually cover this up. Typically if it looks like two butterflies are standing back-to-back and touching, there's a pretty good chance they're mating. (More info here.)

It's neat to see but difficult to photograph, but sometimes one will fly off while they're still attached. (I suspect I may have spooked some of them into flight myself.)

August 15, 2020 at Negri Nepote Native Grassland Preserve

August 15, 2020 at Negri Nepote Native Grassland Preserve


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